One-electron reduction of [ArN(3)N]MoCl complexes (Ar = C(6)H(5), 4-FC(6)H(4), 4-t-BuC(6)H(4), 3,5-Me(2)C(6)H(3)) yields complexes of the type [ArN(3)N]Mo-N=N-Mo[ArN(3)N], while two-electron reduction yields ([ArN(3)N]Mo-N=N)(-) derivatives (Ar = C(6)H(5), 4-FC(6)H(4), 4-t-BuC(6)H(4), 3,5-Me(2)C(6)H(3), 3,5-Ph(2)C(6)H(3), and 3,5-(4-t-BuC(6)H(4))(2)C(6)H(3)). Compounds that were crystallographically characterized include ([t-BuC(6)H(4)N(3)N]Mo)(2)(N(2)), Na(THF)(6)([PhN(3)N]Mo-N=N)(2)Na(THF)(3), [t-BuC(6)H(4)N(3)N]Mo-N=N-Na(15-crown-5), and ([Ph(2)C(6)H(3)N(3)N]MoNN)(2)Mg(DME)(2). Compounds of the type [ArN(3)N]Mo-N=N-Mo[ArN(3)N] do not appear to form when Ar = 3,5-Ph(2)C(6)H(3) or 3,5-(4-t-BuC(6)H(4))(2)C(6)H(3), presumably for steric reasons. Treatment of diazenido complexes (e.g., [ArN(3)N]Mo-N=N-Na(THF)(x)) with electrophiles such as Me(3)SiCl or MeOTf yielded [ArN(3)N]Mo-N=NR complexes (R = SiMe(3) or Me). These species react further to yield ([ArN(3)N]Mo-N=NMe(2))(+) species in the presence of methylating agents. Addition of anionic methyl reagents to ([ArN(3)N]Mo-N=NMe(2))(+) species yielded [ArN(3)N]Mo(N=NMe(2))(Me) complexes. Reduction of [4-t-BuC(6)H(4)N(3)N]WCl under dinitrogen leads to a rare ([t-BuC(6)H(4)N(3)N]W)(2)(N(2)) species that can be oxidized by two electrons to give a stable dication (as its BPh(4)(-) salt). Reduction of hydrazido species leads to formation of Mo=N in low yields, and only dimethylamine could be identified among the many products. Electrochemical studies revealed expected trends in oxidation and reduction potentials, but also provided evidence for stable neutral dinitrogen complexes of the type [ArN(3)N]Mo(N(2)) when Ar is a relatively bulky terphenyl substituent.

Although hereditary breast cancers have defects in the DNA damage response that result in genomic instability, DNA repair abnormalities in sporadic breast cancers have not been extensively characterized. Recently we showed that, relative to non-tumorigenic breast epithelial MCF10A cells, estrogen receptor- and progesterone receptor-positive (ER/PR+) MCF7 breast cancer cells have reduced steady state levels of DNA ligase IV, a component of the major DNA-PK dependent non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway, whereas the steady state level of DNA ligase IIIα, a component of the highly error-prone alternative NHEJ (ALT NHEJ) pathway, is increased. Here we show that tamoxifen- and aromatase-resistant derivatives of MCF7 cells and ER/PR- cells have even higher steady state levels of DNA ligase IIIα and increased levels of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP1), another ALT NHEJ component. This results in increased dependence upon microhomology-mediated ALT NHEJ to repair DNA double strand breaks (DSB)s and the accumulation of chromosomal deletions. Notably, therapy-resistant derivatives of MCF7 cells and ER/PR- cells exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to a combination of PARP and DNA ligase III inhibitors that increased the number of DSBs. Biopsies from ER/PR- tumors had elevated levels of ALT NHEJ and reduced levels of DNA-PK-dependent NHEJ factors. Thus, our results show that ALT NHEJ is a novel therapeutic target in breast cancers that are resistant to frontline therapies and suggest that changes in NHEJ protein levels may serve as biomarkers to identify tumors that are candidates for this therapeutic approach.