Two macrocyclic dinuclear zinc(II) complexes (1a and 1b) have been self-assembled in the presence of pyridine and 2,2 -bipyridine, respectively, to form μ2-OH-bridged bimacrocycles with a Zn4O4 cavity through coordination bonding. The X-ray structural analysis reveals that both compounds {2a: [Zn4La 2(OH)2]2(ClO4)2; 2b: [Zn4Lb 2(OH)2]2(ClO4)2} have an open-mouthed sandwich-like structure with π−π interactions between parts of two phenyl rings to strengthen two hydroxyl groups connecting the metal atoms in the same direction of the macrocycle. Furthermore, nonclassical C−H•••Cl intermolecular interactions have been observed in the crystal of 2b. In addition, the reaction of 1a with quinoline derivatives has yielded novel hydrogen-bond-supported donor-acceptor complexes {3a: [Zn2 La(H2O)2(C10H9N)2](ClO4)2}. The crystallographic study of the complex containing 2-methylquinoline indicates that two 2-methylquinoline molecules are linked to two coordinating water molecules above and below the macrocyclic framework through O−H•••N hydrogen bonds. The 2-methylquinoline plane interacts in a face-to-face fashion with the phenyl ring of adjacent macrocyclic frameworks, forming an ordered arrangement where one macrocycle and two 2-methylquinolines are arrayed alternately with almost the same separation. The interplanar distance mentioned before is ca. 3.6Å.

Twenty-six new hydrophilic chiral 2-alkoxy-1,4-butanediamine platinum (II) complexes having a seven-membered ring structure between a bidentate carrier ligand and a platinum atom have been synthesized and most of them were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity toward A549 human non-small cell lung carcinoma and HCT-116 human colon cancer cell lines. The cytotoxicities of platinum complexes are related to the nature of the carrier ligand and leaving group. Complex 50b, viz. cis-dichloro[(2R)-ethoxy-1,4-butanediamine] platinum (II), exhibits the greatest potency among those 21 tested platinum complexes in both cell lines.

The combination of a macrocyclic precursor and a sodium ion, sodium 2,6-diformyl-4-substitutedphenolate, offers an effective template to carry out Schiff base cyclocondensation with a quite number of polyamines. Followed by transmetallation with heavy metals has resulted in the production of several classes of macrocyclic complexes which have been structurally characterized. The ligands are involved with [2+2], [2+3], [3+3] and [4+4] condensation modes of macrocyclic precursors with multi-amines. It has been found so far that the sodium template presents several unique features such as a 'versatile' template regardless of ring sizes, easy replacement by transition metals and induced certain group elimination during the reaction.

Reaction between 4-aminopyridine and a dinuclear zinc(II) component of a Robson macrocyclic ligand has resulted in the formation of a molecular ladder element motif. X-ray single crystal structural analysis indicates that two pyridine rings are assembled at the same direction of the macrocycle, which are placed in a nearly parallel way via

A series of novel cisplatin-type platinum complexes, formulated as [PtA2(OCOCH2OR)2] (A2 = two monoamines or one diamine, R is an alkyl group), were designed, characteristic of alkoxyacetate as carboxylato ligands. The pertinent compounds were prepared and characterized by elementary analyses, IR, 1H NMR, and ESI-MS spectra. The cytotoxic activities of compound 1a in vitro toward HL-60 human leukemia and BEL-7402 human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines were pioneeringly studied. Then, compounds 1b-3d were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against Ramos human lymphoma, 3AO human ovarian carcinoma, and A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Most of them showed better cytotoxic activity than carboplatin against above selected cell lines.