Transition metal complexes of N-1-tosylcytosine and N-1-mesylcytosine

The syntheses as well as chemical and X-ray structural characterization of dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]copper(II) (2), its solvated pseudopolymorph containing two methanol molecules (3), dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]cadmium(II) (4), 1-methanesulfonylcytosine (6) and its copper complex dichlorobis(1-methanesulfonylcytosine)copper(II) (7) are described. In addition, spectroscopic studies of dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]cobalt(II) (5), as well as of dichlorobis(1-mesylcytosine)cadmium(II) (8) are presented. Pseudopolymorphs 2 and 3, as well as their 1-mesylcytosine analog 7, reveal square-planar coordination spheres, almost ideal in the case of 2, but considerably distorted in the case of 3 and 7. In all cases, the Cu(II) ion is coordinated by two endocyclic N3 atoms from two ligand molecules and by two chlorine atoms. The analogous coordination sphere was found in complex 4, where Cd(II) lies in the center of a slightly distorted tetrahedron formed by two endocyclic N3 atoms and by two chlorine atoms.

Graphical abstractThe syntheses as well as chemical and X-ray structural characterization of dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]copper(II) (2), its solvated pseudopolymorph containing two methanol molecules (3), dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]cadmium(II) (4), 1-methanesulfonylcytosine (6) and its copper complex dichlorobis(1-methanesulfonylcytosine)copper(II) (7) are described. In addition, spectroscopic studies of dichlorobis[1-(p-toluenesulfonyl)cytosine]cobalt(II) (5), as well as of dichlorobis(1-mesylcytosine)cadmium(II) (8) are presented. The X-ray structure of complex 3 revealed charge delocalization inside the cytosine ring, prompted by copper coordination, as the first step towards tautomerization which has not been observed previously in the copper complexes of N-1 substituted cytosine.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide