Features of the decomposition of the neutral nitrosyl iron complexes with aryl-containing thiolate ligands in various solvents. Reaction with glutathione

Abstract

The decomposition of two neutral binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes (NICs) of the µ-S structural type and general composition [Fe₂(SR)₂(NO)₄]⁰ was studied in comparison. The exchange reaction of the thiophenol or 2-aminothiophenol thiolate ligand by glutathione (GSH) in neutral NICs was studied. The reaction system was analyzed by spectrophotometry to prove the presence of a new NICs with the GS^– ligand in it. It was found that, unlike the earlier studied binuclear cationic NICs of the µ-S type and general composition [Fe₂(µ-SR)₂(NO)₄]²⁺SO₄•nH₂O with cysteamine and penicillamine ligands in which both thiolate ligands exchange by GS^–, in these neutral complexes both thiolate ligands are de-tached by only one GSH ligand is attached. A water molecule is inserted into the second free site. It is assumed that the antitumor activity of the neutral NICs can be determined not only by their NO-donor activity but also by their ability to exchange the thiolate ligand by GS^–, i.e., "to remove" GSH from the medium as in the case of cationic NICs. The discovered reaction can prevent, most likely, the S-glutathionylation of important metabolites in the presence of GSH and is very significant for metabolism of NICs.