Complexation of Mn(II) by Rigid Pyclen Diacetates: Equilibrium, Ki-netic, Relaxometric, DFT and SOD Activity Studies.

We report the Mn(II) complexes with two pyclen-based ligands (pyclen = 3,6,9,15-tetraazabicyclo[9.3.1]pentadeca-1(15),11,13-triene) functionalized with acetate pendant arms either at positions 3,6 (3,6-PC2A) or 3,9 (3,9-PC2A) of the macrocyclic fragment. The 3,6-PC2A ligand was synthesized in five steps from pyclen-oxalate by protecting one of the secondary amine groups of pyclen using Alloc protecting chemistry. The complex with 3,9-PC2A is characterized by a higher thermodynamic stability (logKMnL = 17.09(2) than the 3,6-PC2A analogue (logKMnL = 15.53(1), 0.15 M NaCl). Both complexes contain a water molecule coordinated to the metal ion, which results in relatively high 1H relaxivities (r1p = 2.72 and 2.91 mM-1 s -1 for the complexes with 3,6- and 3,9-PC2A, respectively, 25 ºC, 0.49 T). The coordinated water molecule displays fast exchange kinetics with the bulk in both cases; the rates (kex 298) are 140106 and 126106 s -1 for [Mn(3,6-PC2A)] and [Mn(3,9- PC2A)], respectively. The two complexes were found to be remarkably inert with respect to their dissociation, with halflives of 63 and 21 h, respectively, at pH 7.4 in the presence of excess Cu(II). The r1p values recorded in blood serum remain constant at least over a period of 120 h. Cyclic voltammetry experiments show irreversible oxidation features shifted to higher potentials with respect to [Mn(EDTA)]2- and [Mn(PhDTA)]2- , indicating that the PC2A complexes reported here have a lower tendency to stabilize Mn(III). The superoxide dismutase activity of the Mn(II) complexes was tested using the xanthine/xanthine oxidase/NBT assay at pH 7.8. The Mn(II) complexes of 3,6-PC2A and 3,9-PC2A are capable to assist the decomposition of superoxide anion radical. The kinetic rate constant of the complex of 3,9-PC2A is smaller by one order of magnitude than that of 3,6-PC2A.