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Updated: Apr 10, 2026

Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay
Published on: February 9, 2021
Isoquinoline derivatives Zn(II)/Ni(II) complexes: Crystal structures, cytotoxicity, and their action mechanism
Ke-Bin Huang1, Hui-Yan Mo1, Zhen-Feng Chen1
1Guangxi Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, School of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, PR China.
Abstract:
Three transition metal complexes with isoquinoline derivatives: [(MPDQ)2Zn(C2H5OH)ClO4]ClO4 (1) (MPDQ = 4,5-methylenedioxy-1-pyridinedihydroisoquinoline), [(PYP)2Zn(H2O)](ClO4)2 (2) (PYP = 5-pyridin-2-yl-[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]isoquinoline) and [(MPDQ)2Ni(CH3OH)ClO4]ClO4 (3) were synthesized and fully characterized. All complexes exhibited strong proliferation inhibition activity against various tested cancer cells with high selectivity to tumour and normal cells. BEL-7404 cells were found most sensitive to complex 2 by inducing apoptosis. The process involved the mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, PARP-proteins cleavage, Bcl-2, p53, p21 expression and caspase family members' activation. Taking these findings into account, it can propose that complex 2 induce cancer cell apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways. The interaction of complex 2 with DNA investigated by fluorescence, CD and viscosity indicated that complex 2 interact with DNA mainly via intercalation.
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Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can...
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