IChO 1986 · Theory problem 1

Platinum(II) antitumour complexes: isomers, hydrolysis and DNA binding

Compounds containing divalent platinum with the general formula \(\ce{PtX2(amine)2}\) (X = \(\ce{Cl2}\), \(\ce{SO4^2-}\), malonate, etc.) have met a lot of scientific interest because of their biological activity, particularly in view of their properties in the treatment of tumours. The best known compound used clinically is \(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\). This compound, in which platinum is coordinated in a planar square, has two geometrical isomers of which only one shows the antitumour activity.

1.1 Sketch the spatial structures of the two possible isomers.

1.2 How many isomers has \(\ce{PtBrCl(NH3)2}\)? Sketch all of them.

It is possible to replace the amine ligands by one ligand containing two donor atoms (N). Then one obtains a chelating ligand, such as 1,2-diaminoethane (en).

1.3 Show graphically that \(\ce{PtBrCl(en)}\) has only one stable structure.

The ligand en can be substituted via methylation to form dmen or pn (racemic).

Figure 1

1.4 Give spatial structures of all isomers of the following compounds: \(\ce{PtCl2(dmen)}\), \(\ce{PtCl2(pn)}\), \(\ce{PtBrCl(dmen)}\) and \(\ce{PtBrCl(pn)}\).

These compounds can isomerise in aqueous solution through dissociation of a ligand and transient replacement of the stronger ligands by the weak ligand water. \(\ce{Cl-}\) and \(\ce{Br-}\) are replaced relatively easily, but it is more difficult to replace the amine ligands, which usually requires heating.

1.5 Considering each of the isomers in the previous questions a-d, indicate which Isomers can be converted to another at room temperature. Give both the original molecule and the products.

1.6 \(\ce{PtCl2(en)}\) reacts with \(\ce{Br-}\) in a molar proportion of 1:2 at room temperature. Which compound would you expect to form in what proportion? You can assume that the \(\ce{Pt-Br}\) and \(\ce{Pt-Cl}\) bonds are equally strong and that there is no perturbing influence from hydrolysis.

1.7 Using the equation to express chemical equilibrium, show that hydrolysis hardly ever occurs in blood but that it does occur in the cells. Note: \(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\) hydrolyses to and \(\ce{2Cl-}\). In cells the \(\ce{Cl-}\) concentration is low; in blood it is fairly high.

After hydrolysis in the tumour cell a reactive platinum ion is formed to which two \(\ce{NH3}\) groups are still bound, as it was found in the urine of patients treated with this compound. The reactive platinum ion appears to be bound to cellular DNA, where the bonding occurs via guanine to one of the N-atoms.

Figure 2

As a result of the two reactive sites of platinum and the two unreactive \(\ce{NH3}\) ligands, it can form additionally a second bond to DNA. Research has shown that this happens in particular with a second guanine base from the same strand of DNA.

1.8 Show by calculations which of the two isomers in question a) can form this bond.

(Note: \(\ce{Pt-N}\) distance = 210 pm, DNA base distance = 320 pm).

Official English text of the problem.

Answers

The named structures and their stereochemical SMILES are given individually in the solution.

  • 1.1: Two isomers: cisplatin, with adjacent ammonia ligands, and transplatin, with opposite ammonia ligands.
  • 1.2: Two isomers: cis- and trans-diamminebromidochloridoplatinum(II).
  • 1.3: One configurational isomer: the two nitrogen donors of en occupy adjacent sites; bromide and chloride occupy the remaining adjacent sites.
  • 1.4: The numbers of isomers are:
Compound Number Relationship
\(\ce{PtCl2(dmen)}\) 1 One configuration
\(\ce{PtCl2(pn)}\) 2 One enantiomeric pair
\(\ce{PtBrCl(dmen)}\) 2 Two geometrical arrangements
\(\ce{PtBrCl(pn)}\) 4 Two enantiomeric pairs
  • 1.5: The two mixed-halide dmen isomers interconvert. For mixed-halide pn, the two halide arrangements interconvert separately within each carbon configuration, \(R\) or \(S\). No other distinct isomers listed above interconvert through the stipulated room-temperature halide-exchange process.
  • 1.6: The equilibrium platinum-containing mixture is

\[ \ce{PtCl2(en)}:\ce{PtBrCl(en)}:\ce{PtBr2(en)} =\boxed{1:2:1}, \]

corresponding to 25%, 50%, and 25%, respectively. - 1.7: Aquation releases chloride. High chloride concentration in blood shifts the equilibrium toward the original complex; lower chloride concentration in cells favours aquation. The diaqua/original-complex activity ratio varies as \(a_{\ce{Cl-}}^{-2}\). - 1.8: Cisplatin fits the proposed adjacent-guanine cross-link: its two binding sites give a donor separation of approximately 297 pm, compared with 420 pm for transplatin and the supplied DNA spacing of 320 pm.

Solution

The structures below count configurational isomers, excluding rapidly interconverting conformations of the chelate rings.

In the SMILES, -> denotes a donor-to-metal coordination bond. Platinum is represented as \(\ce{Pt^2+}\), and coordinated halides retain their formal negative charges. The square-planar descriptor @SP1 places neighbours 1 and 3 opposite one another, and neighbours 2 and 4 opposite one another, in their SMILES order. These strings specify coordination geometry and carbon configuration; they do not fix ring puckering.

The ligand and small-species identities used below are:

Name SMILES
Ammonia N
Water O
Chloride ion [Cl-]
Bromide ion [Br-]
Ethane-1,2-diamine, en NCCN
\(N,N\)-Dimethylethane-1,2-diamine, dmen, as implied by methylation of en NCCN(C)C
\((R)\)-Propane-1,2-diamine, \((R)\)-pn NC[C@@H](C)N
\((S)\)-Propane-1,2-diamine, \((S)\)-pn NC[C@H](C)N

Racemic pn contains equal amounts of its \(R\) and \(S\) enantiomers.

1.1 — The two isomers of \(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\)

Place platinum at the centre of a square, with its four donor atoms above, right, below and left, all in one plane.

Name Ligands clockwise from above platinum SMILES
Cisplatin, cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II) \(\ce{NH3},\ce{NH3},\ce{Cl},\ce{Cl}\) [NH3]->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[NH3])(<-[Cl-])<-[Cl-]
Transplatin, trans-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II) \(\ce{NH3},\ce{Cl},\ce{NH3},\ce{Cl}\) [NH3]->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[NH3])<-[Cl-]

The two ammonia ligands are separated by \(90^\circ\) in the cis isomer and \(180^\circ\) in the trans isomer. These exhaust the possibilities for two pairs of identical ligands in a square plane.

1.2 — Isomers of \(\ce{PtBrCl(NH3)2}\)

The two identical ammonia ligands can again be adjacent or opposite.

Name Ligands clockwise from above platinum SMILES
cis-Diamminebromidochloridoplatinum(II) \(\ce{NH3},\ce{NH3},\ce{Br},\ce{Cl}\) [NH3]->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[NH3])(<-[Br-])<-[Cl-]
trans-Diamminebromidochloridoplatinum(II) \(\ce{NH3},\ce{Br},\ce{NH3},\ce{Cl}\) [NH3]->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Br-])(<-[NH3])<-[Cl-]

Interchanging bromide and chloride within either arrangement does not generate an additional isomer: the resulting drawing can be superimposed on the original by rotating the molecule. Thus there are two isomers.

1.3 — Why \(\ce{PtBrCl(en)}\) has one stable configuration

The short \(\ce{-CH2CH2-}\) bridge of en makes a five-membered chelate ring with platinum. Its two nitrogen donors must occupy adjacent coordination sites; a trans arrangement is not compatible with a stable en chelate.

For the requested sketch, put one nitrogen above platinum and the other to its right. Connect them through the \(\ce{-CH2CH2-}\) chain outside that corner. Put chloride below platinum and bromide to its left.

The product is bromidochlorido(ethane-1,2-diamine)platinum(II):

N1CCN->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Br-])<-1

The two ends of en are equivalent. Consequently, reversing the bromide/chloride placement produces an equivalent structure, leaving one configurational isomer.

1.4 — All isomers of the four substituted-chelate complexes

Use the following common drawing convention:

  • Put donor \(N_a\) above platinum and donor \(N_b\) to its right.
  • Connect them by the ligand’s carbon backbone.
  • Put the two halides below and to the left of platinum.
  • The lower halide is therefore trans to \(N_a\); the left-hand halide is trans to \(N_b\).

For dmen, \(N_a\) is the primary amino donor and \(N_b\) is the dimethylamino donor. For pn, \(N_a\) is attached to the terminal methylene carbon, while \(N_b\) is attached to the stereogenic carbon.

Define the mixed-halide arrangements as:

\[ \begin{aligned} A &: \quad \ce{Cl}\text{ trans to }N_a,\quad \ce{Br}\text{ trans to }N_b,\\ B &: \quad \ce{Br}\text{ trans to }N_a,\quad \ce{Cl}\text{ trans to }N_b. \end{aligned} \]

The complete set is:

Name and label Configuration SMILES
Dichlorido(dmen)platinum(II) Single configuration N1CCN(C)(C)->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Dichlorido[(R)-pn]platinum(II) \(R\) N1C[C@@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Dichlorido[(S)-pn]platinum(II) \(S\) N1C[C@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Bromidochlorido(dmen)platinum(II), \(D_A\) Arrangement \(A\) N1CCN(C)(C)->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Br-])<-1
Bromidochlorido(dmen)platinum(II), \(D_B\) Arrangement \(B\) N1CCN(C)(C)->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Br-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Bromidochlorido[(R)-pn]platinum(II), \(P_{R,A}\) \(R,A\) N1C[C@@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Br-])<-1
Bromidochlorido[(S)-pn]platinum(II), \(P_{S,A}\) \(S,A\) N1C[C@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Br-])<-1
Bromidochlorido[(R)-pn]platinum(II), \(P_{R,B}\) \(R,B\) N1C[C@@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Br-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Bromidochlorido[(S)-pn]platinum(II), \(P_{S,B}\) \(S,B\) N1C[C@H](C)N->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Br-])(<-[Cl-])<-1

For an explicit spatial description of the pn stereocentre, its substituent priorities are

\[ \text{amino nitrogen} > \text{methylene–amino group} > \text{methyl group} > \text{hydrogen}. \]

With hydrogen directed away from the viewer, the first three groups run clockwise for \(R\) and counterclockwise for \(S\).

The counts follow directly:

  • \(\ce{PtCl2(dmen)}\): The chlorides are identical, and dmen has no configurationally stereogenic centre. There is one isomer.
  • \(\ce{PtCl2(pn)}\): The chlorides are identical, but pn has one stereogenic carbon. There are two, an \(R/S\) enantiomeric pair.
  • \(\ce{PtBrCl(dmen)}\): The two nitrogen donors differ, so arrangements \(A\) and \(B\) are distinct. There are two geometrical isomers.
  • \(\ce{PtBrCl(pn)}\): Each halide arrangement occurs with either carbon configuration. There are four isomers, forming the enantiomeric pairs \((P_{R,A},P_{S,A})\) and \((P_{R,B},P_{S,B})\).

1.5 — Room-temperature interconversions

Under the problem’s substitution model, room-temperature exchange preserves the platinum–nitrogen framework. It also preserves the configuration of the pn carbon atom.

Temporary replacement of the halides by water, followed by halide rebinding, can exchange which halide occupies each available site. Thus the following net isomerizations are possible; the labels refer to the fully specified structures in 1.4:

\[ \underset{D_A}{\ce{[PtBrCl(dmen)]}} \ \ce{<=>[H2O]}\ \underset{D_B}{\ce{[PtBrCl(dmen)]}}. \]

\[ \underset{P_{R,A}}{\ce{[PtBrCl(pn)]}} \ \ce{<=>[H2O]}\ \underset{P_{R,B}}{\ce{[PtBrCl(pn)]}}. \]

\[ \underset{P_{S,A}}{\ce{[PtBrCl(pn)]}} \ \ce{<=>[H2O]}\ \underset{P_{S,B}}{\ce{[PtBrCl(pn)]}}. \]

These net equations are balanced: water mediates the exchange and is not consumed overall.

For completeness, the other cases are:

Earlier complex Consequence of halide exchange alone
cis-/trans-\(\ce{PtCl2(NH3)2}\) No interconversion: the relative ammonia positions remain unchanged.
cis-/trans-\(\ce{PtBrCl(NH3)2}\) No interconversion: swapping halides does not change the relative ammonia positions.
\(\ce{PtBrCl(en)}\) Returns the same configurational isomer.
\(\ce{PtCl2(dmen)}\) Returns the same configurational isomer.
\(R/S\)-\(\ce{PtCl2(pn)}\) No interconversion: halide exchange does not invert the stereogenic carbon.

Similarly, \(P_{R,A}\) or \(P_{R,B}\) does not become either \(S\) isomer by this process.

1.6 — Reaction of \(\ce{PtCl2(en)}\) with two equivalents of bromide

The balanced exchange equilibria are

\[ \ce{[PtCl2(en)] + Br- <=> [PtBrCl(en)] + Cl-} \]

and

\[ \ce{[PtBrCl(en)] + Br- <=> [PtBr2(en)] + Cl-}. \]

The additional named structures are:

Name SMILES
Dichlorido(ethane-1,2-diamine)platinum(II) N1CCN->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Cl-])(<-[Cl-])<-1
Dibromido(ethane-1,2-diamine)platinum(II) N1CCN->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[Br-])(<-[Br-])<-1

The mixed-halide complex was specified in 1.3.

Initially, each mole of platinum complex supplies two moles of chloride, and two moles of bromide are added. Thus the total amounts of the two halides are equal.

Using the intended equal-affinity, independent-site approximation, equal total amounts imply equal equilibrium free-halide concentrations. Each of the two halide sites therefore has probability \(1/2\) of containing either halide:

\[ \begin{aligned} P(\text{two chlorides})&=\left(\frac12\right)^2=\frac14,\\ P(\text{one of each})&=2\left(\frac12\right)\left(\frac12\right)=\frac12,\\ P(\text{two bromides})&=\left(\frac12\right)^2=\frac14. \end{aligned} \]

Therefore,

\[ \boxed{ \ce{PtCl2(en)}:\ce{PtBrCl(en)}:\ce{PtBr2(en)} =1:2:1 }. \]

Per mole of initial platinum complex, the final amounts are \(0.25\), \(0.50\), and \(0.25\ \mathrm{mol}\), respectively, together with \(1.0\ \mathrm{mol}\) each of free chloride and free bromide.

The factor of two for the mixed complex counts two equivalent site assignments; it does not imply two distinct mixed-halide en isomers.

1.7 — Hydrolysis in blood and in cells

Writing the replacing water ligands explicitly, the overall aquation equilibrium is

\[ \boxed{ \ce{[PtCl2(NH3)2] + 2H2O <=> [Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]^2+ + 2Cl-} }. \]

For cisplatin, the product is cis-diamminediaquaplatinum(II) ion:

[NH3]->[Pt@SP1+2](<-[NH3])(<-[OH2])<-[OH2]

The equilibrium constant is

\[ K= \frac{ a_{\ce{[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]^2+}}\, a_{\ce{Cl-}}^{\,2} }{ a_{\ce{[PtCl2(NH3)2]}}\, a_{\ce{H2O}}^{\,2} }. \]

Taking water activity as approximately unity,

\[ \boxed{ \frac{ a_{\ce{[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]^2+}} }{ a_{\ce{[PtCl2(NH3)2]}} } = \frac{K}{a_{\ce{Cl-}}^{\,2}} }. \]

Thus:

  • Blood: high chloride activity suppresses aquation through the common-ion effect.
  • Cells: lower chloride activity favours the reactive aquated complex.

For example, a tenfold decrease in chloride activity increases this diaqua/original-complex ratio by a factor of \(10^2=100\). The supplied information establishes the direction of the effect; numerical hydrolysis fractions would require equilibrium constants and concentrations.

1.8 — Which isomer can cross-link the two guanines?

The binding atom shown is guanine’s N7. Guanine, as a free-base reference, has SMILES:

Nc1nc2[nH]cnc2c(=O)[nH]1

In DNA, its N9 position is attached to the sugar. The whole DNA molecule cannot be assigned a unique SMILES without specifying its sequence and structure.

After aquation, the two replaceable ligands occupy the positions originally occupied by the chlorides. Therefore the two guanine-binding sites are cis for cisplatin and trans for transplatin.

For two platinum–nitrogen bonds of length \(r\), enclosing angle \(\theta\), the nitrogen–nitrogen distance is

\[ d=\sqrt{r^2+r^2-2r^2\cos\theta} =2r\sin\frac{\theta}{2}. \]

Using \(r=210\ \mathrm{pm}\):

For cisplatin, \(\theta=90^\circ\):

\[ d_{\mathrm{cis}} =\sqrt{2}(210\ \mathrm{pm}) \approx \boxed{297\ \mathrm{pm}}. \]

For transplatin, \(\theta=180^\circ\):

\[ d_{\mathrm{trans}} =2(210\ \mathrm{pm}) =\boxed{420\ \mathrm{pm}}. \]

The supplied DNA base spacing is \(320\ \mathrm{pm}\), much closer to the cis separation. Equivalently, an exact donor separation of \(320\ \mathrm{pm}\) with two \(210\ \mathrm{pm}\) bonds would require

\[ \theta =2\arcsin\!\left(\frac{320}{420}\right) \approx99^\circ, \]

which is close to a cis angle.

Thus cisplatin is the isomer consistent with the proposed cross-link between nearby guanines on the same DNA strand, with some structural adjustment implicit in the approximate distance comparison.

The solution was checked against the official solution. Where this solution differs from the official solution, the official solution contains an error or a misprint.