Hydroxyl radical generated by Fe(II) is the primary cause of oxidative DNA damage and has been linked to Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and cardiovascular diseases and cancers. Previous studies have shown that some sulfur and selenium compounds prevent iron- and copper-mediated DNA damage by binding metal ions, yet why iron binding leads to DNA damage prevention is not understood. N,N'-dimethylimidazole selone and thione compounds prevent iron-mediated DNA damage, and novel Fe(II) thione and selone complexes of the formulae FeL2Cl2 and [FeL4]2+ have been synthesized and characterized to determine how Fe(II) coordination leads to the observed antioxidant activity. For the FeL2Cl2 complexes, the selone ligand is more susceptible to oxidation than the thione ligand (E1/2 values of 273 and 420 mV, respectively). Reactivity studies with hydrogen peroxide indicate that the selone ligand preferentially undergoes sacrificial oxidation and prevents Fe(II) oxidation.

Synthesis and characterization of iron(II) thione and selone compounds

245th National Meeting (2013)

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