Chelation of UO22+ by vitamin B6 complex derivatives: Synthesis and characterization of [UO2(β-pyracinide)2(H2O)] and [UO2(Pyr2en)DMSO]Cl2{Pyr2en = N,N′-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato)}. A useful modeling of assimilation of uranium by living beings

The vitamin B6 derivatives 4-pyridoxic acid (anionic) and the Schiff base N,N′-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato) react with UO2(NO3)2 · 6H2O to give [UO2(β-pyracinide)2(H2O)] (β-pyracin = 4-pyridoxic acid) and [UO2(Pyr2en)DMSO]Cl2(Pyr2en = N,N′-ethylenebis(pyridoxylideneiminato); DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). In both compounds the two uranyl oxo ligands set the axis of distorted pentagonal bipyramides. The ability of vitamin B6 derivatives to react with UO22+ allowing the chelation of one uranium atom represents a very specific model of assimilation of uranium by living beings. It could also explain the serious damages caused by heavy or radioactive metals like uranium since their complexation “in vivo” by enzymatic systems like pyridoxal phosphate-containing enzymes would lead to a modification of the prosthetic groups of the metalloenzymes with loss of their catalytic activities.