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A series of 73 ligands and 73 of their Cu+2 and Cu+1 copper complexes with different geometries, oxidation states of the metal, and redox activities were synthesized and characterized. The aim of the study was to establish the structure–activity relationship within a series of analogues with different substituents at the N(3) position, which govern the redox potentials of the Cu+2/Cu+1 redox couples, ROS generation ability, and intracellular accumulation. Possible cytotoxicity mechanisms, such as DNA damage, DNA intercalation, telomerase inhibition, and apoptosis induction, have been investigated. ROS formation in MCF-7 cells and three-dimensional (3D) spheroids was proven using the Pt-nanoelectrode. Drug accumulation and ROS formation at 40–60 μm spheroid depths were found to be the key factors for the drug efficacy in the 3D tumor model, governed by the Cu+2/Cu+1 redox potential. A nontoxic in vivo single-dose evaluation for two binuclear mixed-valence Cu+1/Cu+2 redox-active coordination compounds, 72k and 61k, was conducted.

4,4'-Bipyridine and 2,7-diazapyrene derivatives (A) having two ammonioalkyl N-substituents were synthesized. The complex formation of these compounds with bis(18-crown-6)stilbene (D) was studied by spectrophotometry, cyclic voltammetry, (1)H NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. In MeCN, π-donor D and π-acceptors A form supramolecular 1:1 (D·A) and 2:1 (D·A·D) charge-transfer complexes. The D·A complexes have a pseudocyclic structure as a result of ditopic binding of the ammonium groups to the crown-ether fragments. The better the geometric matching between the components, the higher the stability of the D·A complexes (log K up to 9.39). A key driving force of the D·A·D complex formation is the excessive steric strain in the precursor D·A complexes. The pseudocyclic D·A complexes involving the ammoniopropyl derivative of 4,4'-bipyridine were obtained as single crystals. Crystallization of the related ammonioethyl derivative was accompanied by transition of the D·A complexes to a structure of the (D·A)(m) coordination polymer type.

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