Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Facile Preparation of 2Z,4E-Dienamides by the Olefination of Electron-deficient Alkenes with Allyl Acetate
Published on: June 21, 2017
Molybdenum(II) allyl dicarbonyl complexes with 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole as potential CO-releasing molecules,
Isabel B Calhau1, Ana C Gomes1, Sofia M Bruno1
1CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract:
Molybdenum-based CO-releasing molecules (CORMs) are attracting interest for biological and therapeutic applications. In this work two new complexes, [Mo(η3-C3H5)X(CO)2(Hpypz)] [X = Cl (1), Br (2); Hpypz = 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole] have been synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for their CO-release capacity, as well as antimicrobial and anticancer potential. The evaluation of the CO-release properties by the deoxymyoglobin‑carbonmonoxymyoglobin assay showed that the two complexes are comparably slow CO releasers in aqueous systems, showing a half-life of several hours, and sustained CO release over the course of the assay (6 h). Studies of biological activity were performed with complex 1 due to its better aqueous solubility. The antibacterial activity was investigated by determination of the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations with the microdilution assay for gram-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and gram-negative Escherichia coli strains. Complex 1 displayed appreciable concentration-dependent bactericidal activity against both strains. The cytotoxicity of complex 1 was evaluated on human melanoma cells (A375) and immortalized nontumorigenic keratinocytes (HaCaT). Complex 1 exhibited selective cytotoxicity, significantly reducing the cell viability of A375 cells in a dose-dependent manner while having a lower effect on HaCaT cells, suggesting its antitumor potential against melanoma. In contrast, the precursor complex [Mo(η3-C3H5)Cl(CO)2(CH3CN)2] showed reduced activity against A375 cells and higher toxicity toward HaCaT cells, highlighting the beneficial impact of the bidentate 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole ligand.
Related Concept Videos
ortho–para-Directing Activators: –CH3, –OH, –⁠NH2, –OCH3
Energy-releasing Steps of Glycolysis
The first energy-releasing step—the 6th step of glycolysis...
Formation of Complex Ions
Molecules and Compounds
β-Dicarbonyl Compounds via Crossed Claisen Condensations
π Molecular Orbitals of the Allyl Radical
The allyl systems have identical molecular orbitals but differ in the number of π electrons....

