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Related Concept Videos

Coordination Number and Geometry02:57

Coordination Number and Geometry

17.0K
For transition metal complexes, the coordination number determines the geometry around the central metal ion. Table 1 compares coordination numbers to molecular geometry. The most common structures of the complexes in coordination compounds are octahedral, tetrahedral, and square planar.
17.0K
Valence Bond Theory02:42

Valence Bond Theory

9.8K
Coordination compounds and complexes exhibit different colors, geometries, and magnetic behavior, depending on the metal atom/ion and ligands from which they are composed. In an attempt to explain the bonding and structure of coordination complexes, Linus Pauling proposed the valence bond theory, or VBT, using the concepts of hybridization and the overlapping of the atomic orbitals. According to VBT, the central metal atom or ion (Lewis acid) hybridizes to provide empty orbitals of suitable...
9.8K
Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes02:46

Crystal Field Theory - Tetrahedral and Square Planar Complexes

45.3K
Tetrahedral Complexes
Crystal field theory (CFT) is applicable to molecules in geometries other than octahedral. In octahedral complexes, the lobes of the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals point directly at the ligands. For tetrahedral complexes, the d orbitals remain in place, but with only four ligands located between the axes. None of the orbitals points directly at the tetrahedral ligands. However, the dx2−y2 and dz2 orbitals (along the Cartesian axes) overlap with the ligands less than the dxy,...
45.3K
Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II01:46

Electron Transport Chain: Complex I and II

15.3K
The mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) is the main energy generation system in the eukaryotic cells. However, mitochondria also produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the large electron flow during oxidative phosphorylation. While Complex I is one of the primary sources of superoxide radicals, ROS production by Complex II is uncommon and may only be observed in cancer cells with mutated complexes.
ROS generation is regulated and maintained at moderate levels necessary...
15.3K
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties01:22

EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

2.4K
Polydentate ligands are most widely used in complexometric titrations because they form more stable complexes with the metal ions than mono- or bidentate ligands due to the chelate effect. Examples of polydentate ligands are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), crown ethers, and cryptands. The most important feature of optimal polydentate ligands is the ability to form 1:1 complexes in a single-step process. Amino carboxylic acid derivatives are frequently used as complexing agents. EDTA is...
2.4K
Stereoisomerism02:52

Stereoisomerism

12.7K
Isomerism in Complexes
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula.
Transition metal complexes often exist as geometric isomers, in which the same atoms are connected through the same types of bonds but with differences in their orientation in space. Coordination complexes with two different ligands in the cis and trans positions from a ligand of interest form isomers. For example, the octahedral [Co(NH3)4Cl2]+ ion has two isomers (Figure 1) In the cis...
12.7K

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Updated: Oct 19, 2025

Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups
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Synthesis of Nine-atom Deltahedral Zintl Ions of Germanium and their Functionalization with Organic Groups

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Exploring six-coordinate germanium(IV)-diketonate complexes as anticancer agents.

Randall T Mertens1, Sean Parkin1, Samuel G Awuah1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Kentucky, 505 Rose Street, Lexington, KY 40506-0055, USA.

Inorganica Chimica Acta
|September 27, 2021
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New germanium(IV) complexes show potent anticancer activity with low toxicity. These novel compounds effectively target cancer cells, inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemotherapy.

Keywords:
AnticancerCytotoxicityDrug discoveryGermaniumMetalloidResistance

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Amide Coupling Reaction for the Synthesis of Bispyridine-based Ligands and Their Complexation to Platinum as Dinuclear Anticancer Agents
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Area of Science:

  • Inorganic Chemistry
  • Medicinal Chemistry
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Cancer remains a leading cause of death globally, with chemotherapy facing challenges like toxicity and drug resistance.
  • Metalloids like arsenic have shown therapeutic benefits, but germanium's potential in cancer treatment is underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize and characterize novel octahedral germanium(IV) complexes with acetylacetonato ligands.
  • To evaluate the anticancer efficacy and selectivity of these germanium complexes against various cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

  • Streamlined synthesis of four germanium(IV) complexes.
  • Structural and electrochemical characterization using NMR, MS, X-ray crystallography, and cyclic voltammetry.
  • In vitro evaluation of anticancer activity, selectivity, and mechanism of action in cancer cells.

Main Results:

  • Synthesized and characterized four novel germanium(IV) complexes.
  • Achieved sub-micromolar IC50 values against cancer cell lines with ~3-fold selectivity over normal cells.
  • Demonstrated complex stability in biological media, induction of G1 arrest, ROS accumulation, mitochondrial depolarization, and apoptosis.

Conclusions:

  • The synthesized germanium(IV) complexes exhibit promising anticancer properties with significant selectivity.
  • These compounds represent a potential new class of metalloid-based anticancer agents with a multi-pronged mechanism of action.