Starting from bis(allyl)magnesium [Mg(C(3)H(5))(2)], a set of cationic, neutral, anionic, and dianionic allyl magnesium compounds has been isolated and characterized, including [Mg(C(3)H(5))(THF)(5)][B(C(6)F(5))(4)] (3), [Mg(C(3)H(5))(2)(1,4-dioxane)(THF)] (2), [KMg(C(3)H(5))(3)(THF)] (6), and [MMg(C(3)H(5))(4)] (8: M = K(2); 9: M = Ca). In solution, the allyl ligands of the compounds display fluxional behavior, even at low temperatures. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals unusual μ(2)-η(1):η(3)- and unprecedented μ(3)-η(1):η(3):η(3)-coordination modes in the heterobimetallic compounds 6 and [8·(THF)(2)]. Density functional theory calculations confirm that these metal-allyl conformations are energetically stable. The magnesium compounds have been investigated as initiators for butadiene polymerization and ethylene oligomerization. The heterobimetallic compounds display initiation properties, including higher reaction rates, that are distinctively different from those of the monometallic species. Reactivity trends depend on the formal charge of the magnesium compounds (dianionic, higher-order magnesiate > monoanionic, lower-order magnesiate) and on the nature of the counterion (K(+) > Ca(2+)).

Indium bis(phenolato) complexes [In(L)R(THF)(n)] (L = 1,4-dithiabutanediylbis(4,6-di-tert-butylphenolato) (etbbp), R = Cl, n = 0, 1; L = 1,3-dithiapropanediylbis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenolato) (mtbmp), R = Me, n = 1, 2; L = 1,4-dithiabutanediyl-bis(6-tert-butyl-4-methyl-phenolato) (etbmp), R = Me, n = 0, 3; L = etbbp, R = CH(2)SiMe(3), n = 0, 4; L = 1,4-dithiabutanediylbis{4,6-di(2-phenyl-2-propyl)phenolato} (etccp), R = CH(2)SiMe(3), n = 0, 5) were prepared from indium trichloride or from the corresponding tris(alkyl) complexes and 1 equiv of tetradentate 1,omega-dithiaalkanediyl-bridged bis(phenol) LH(2). The monomeric nature of the alkyl indium complexes was shown by X-ray diffraction studies of the complexes [In(mtbmp)Me(THF)] (2), [In(etbbp)(CH(2)SiMe(3))] (4), and [In(etccp)(CH(2)SiMe(3))] (5). Pseudo-octahedral configuration was found for 2, while square pyramidal structure was observed for 4 and 5. The isopropoxy complexes [In(L)(O(i)Pr)] (L = etbbp, 6; etccp, 7) were synthesized starting with indium tris(isopropoxide). Complex 6 crystallized as homochiral dimer of pseudo-octahedral fragments with bridging mu(2)-alkoxide ligands, but in solution two diastereomers were observed. The isopropoxy complexes efficiently initiated the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide in toluene to give isotactic poly(L-lactides) with narrow molecular weight distribution (M(w)/M(n) = 1.03-1.18).

Allyl and 2-methylallyl indium compounds were prepared by salt metathesis starting from indium trichloride and a Grignard reagent. They are highly fluxional in solution and reveal coordination numbers of the indium atoms of four and five in the solid state.

The trimethylsilylmethyl indium complex [In(CH2SiMe3)3] (1) was studied by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis at low temperature and shown to be weakly associated as dimeric units with a long indium−carbon bond in the bridges. The bis(trimethylsilylmethyl) cation [In(CH2SiMe3)2(THF)3][B(C6F5)4] (2) was prepared by protonolysis of the neutral complex [In(CH2SiMe3)3] with [NPhMe2H][B(C6F5)4] in THF. Crystal structure analysis revealed that mononuclear 2 adopts a square-pyramidal geometry.

A major problem in treating patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the development of drug resistance. In the current study, we investigated the anticancer properties of the novel rare-earth yttrium complex [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] in various established cell lines, and moreover, we identified the involved apoptotic pathway. Further aim was to investigate whether synergistic effects could be reached in combination with the conventional drug vincristine. We used the yttrium complex [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] in cells of leukemia (Nalm-6) and lymphoma (BJAB) and identified the main mechanism of the apoptosis induction by measuring the amount of hypodiploid DNA via FACS Scan analysis. Exposure of BJAB cells to [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] led to a death receptor-mediated reduction of cell viability and induction of apoptosis. The independence of Bcl-2 expression supports the suggestion that the [YR(mtbmp)(thf)]-induced apoptosis is mainly mediated via the extrinsic pathway. The extensive anti-tumor activity of [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] could be underlined by its capability to overcome multiple drug resistance in leukemic cells (Nalm-6) that are characterized by an overexpression of P-glycoprotein. [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] in combination with the conventional drug vincristine displayed impressive synergistic effects. We demonstrate in vitro efficiency of [YR(mtbmp)(thf)] in cells of hematological malignancies and reveal its ability to be a possible agent for polychemotherapy.