REV. CHIM. (Bucharest) ♦ 62♦ No. 2 ♦ 2011 http://www.revistadechimie.ro 158 Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Cu, Ni and Zn Complexes with a Potential MMPs Inhibitor OVIDIU OPREA 1 , IOANA JITARU 1 *, MICHAELA DINA STANESCU 2 , LAURA ALEXANDRESCU 1 , CRISTINA COVALIU 1 , NICOLAE STANICA 3 1 Politehnica University, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Sciences, Inorganic Chemistry Department, 1 Polizu Str., 011061, Bucharest, Romania 2 “Aurel Vlaicu” University, Chemical and Biological Sciences Department, Faculty of Food Engineering, Tourism and Environmental Protection, 2-4 Elena Dragoi Str., 310330, Arad, Romania 3 Romanian Academy, I.G.Murgulescu” Institute of Physical Chemistry, 202 Splaiul Independentei, Bucharest 060021, Romania The paper reports the synthesis and properties of a number of 3d metal complexes with some new matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) inhibitors. The compounds have been characterized by spectral methods and their conductivity has been determined. The stability in physiological conditions and their toxicity were also established. The experimental data showed a good anti-bacterial activity for some of the new synthesized compounds. Zinc compounds can act as models for the interactions between inhibitors and Zn catalytic site from MMPs. Keywords: Matrix metalloproteinases inhibitors, phenyl-ethane moiety, complex compounds of Ni, Cu and Zn Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases belonging to a larger family of proteases known as the metzincin superfamily. Collectively they are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but also can process a number of bioactive molecules. Matrix metalloproteinases are involved in wound healing, angiogenesis, and have been implicated as possible mediators of invasion and metastasis in some cancers. Cancer cells metastasize when they gain the ability to migrate through the body. For cancers of the epithelium, basement membranes provide a major barrier blocking migration and metastasis [1]. Clinical results suggested that malignant carcinomas have a higher gelatinolytic activity versus benignant tumors, both in active MMP-9 and MMP-2 [2]. Our research group expressed the interest for some enzymes inhibitors containing a phenyl-ethane moiety in their structure since long time [3-10]. Thus, the synthesis of complexes of new phenyl-ethane derivatives, with biological active metals, like copper, nickel and zinc, has been performed and the properties of the new prepared compounds presented. Experimental part Diffuse reflectance measurements were recorded, at room temperature, with an AbleJasco V550 spectro- photometer. IR spectra have been recorded on FTIR Brucker Tensor 27 apparatus. Molar electrical conductivity have been measured in 10 -3 M dimethylformamide solutions, at 25 0 C, with OK 102/1 Radelkis Conductometer, 0.1 – 0.5 S. Magnetic measurements were carried out using a Faraday balance at room temperature with Mohr salt as standard. All the used reagents are p.a. reagents, supplied by Aldrich. 2-[(3-hydroxypropyl)amino]-1-phenylethanone (1) and 2-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)amino]-1-phenylethanone (2) were prepared, as previously described [3,11], by mixing a solution in ethyl ether of 2-chloro-1-phenylethanone and 3- amino 1-propanol respectively 2,2’-iminodiethanol in a molar ratio 1:2.1, for 2 h, at room temperature. * email: ioanajitaru2002@yahoo.com General procedure for preparing the complexes Solutions in methanol, of ligand 1 or 2 and salts of 3d metals [Ni (II), Cu (II) and Zn (II)], were kept under stirring, for 24 h, at room temperature. After the solvent removal and trituration with solution 1/1 methanol/ethyl ether, the coloured solids have been filtered and dried. The complexes were obtained in a 70-80 % yield. Results and discussion The new polydentate ligands 1 (L1) and 2 (L2) presents, like similar compounds, a keto-enol tautomery [9-12], phenomenon observed also in other systems during metal- complex formation [13]. Due to increased flexibility of the side chain, 1 can act as tri-dentate or as a bridge ligand, while 2 is behave as a tetra-dentate tripod. The general data for the newly synthesized compounds 3-9 are presented in table 1. The elemental analysis data for all the compounds are in agreement with the proposed molecular formula. The structures for compounds 3-9 have been proposed according to the IR and diffuse reflectance spectra, as well as the molecular electrical conductivity measurements (table 2-6).