A series
of 16 “3 + 2” mixed-ligand complexes of the general
composition [ReO(L1)(L2)] (H2L1a–H2L1d
= tridentate thiosemicarbazones having a phenyl group with 4-H, 4-F,
3,5-di-F, and 4-CF3 substituents; HL2a–HL2d = bidentate N,N-diethyl-N′-benzoylthioureas
with 4-H, 4-F, 3,5-di-F, and 4-CF3 substituents at the
benzoyl groups) have been synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic
methods and X-ray diffraction. Irrespective of the individual fluorine
substitution, the complexes are stable and possess the same general
structure. Some systematic electronic effects of the fluorine-substitution
patterns of the ligands have been found on the 13C NMR
chemical shifts of the N–CN carbon atoms of the {L1}2– and the CO carbon atoms of the {L2}− ligands. Antiparasitic properties of the rhenium complexes have
been tested against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes forms of two Trypanosoma cruzi strains and the amastigotes form of one
of them. The results of this study indicate that the activity of the
rhenium complexes can clearly be modulated by fluorine substitution
of their ligands. Some of the fluorinated compounds show a high activity
against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes forms of the parasites.
Reactions between (NBu4)[TcOCl4] and two representatives
of the fluorinated ligands (H2L1b, 4-F-substituted, and
H2L1c, 4-CF3-substituted) form stable complexes
of the composition [TcOCl(L1b)] and [TcOCl(L1c)]. Subsequent reactions
of these products with HL2b (4-F-substituted) give the corresponding
[TcO(L1)(L2)] mixed-ligand complexes. Also, the technetium compounds
are stable as solids and in solutions and have structures corresponding
to those of their rhenium analogues.