A Ni(0)-NCN pincer complex featuring a six-membered N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) central platform and amidine pendant arms was synthesized by deprotonation of its Ni(II) precursor. It retained chloride in the square-planar coordination sphere of nickel and was expected to be highly susceptible to oxidative addition reactions. The Ni(0) complex rapidly activated ammonia at room temperature, in a...

We present here results that demonstrate the formation of a complex of DNA with zwitterionic dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) monolayer at the air-water interface in the presence of Ca2+ ions; in particular, we show that the presence of Ca2+ cations is essential for the formation of the complex of DPPC with DNA. We characterize the resulting structure by X-ray reflectivity and by null-elli...

Two new platinum(II) complexes have been synthesized and their anti-tumour and anti-HIV activities have been evaluated.THE NEW COMPLEXES ARE: (i) cis-tetrafluorophthalate-ammine-morpholine-platinum(II) or MMF3 and (ii) cis-tetrafluorophthalate- ammine-piperidine-platinum(II) or MPF4. They were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra.They were tested agains...

Acquired resistance to cisplatin has been generated in vitro in two human ovarian carcinoma cell lines: 41M, established from a previously untreated patient; and CHI, from a patient previously treated with cisplatin and cis-diammine-l,l-cyclobutane dicarboxylatoplatinum(II) (carboplatin). In neither cell line with acquired resistance did intracellular detoxification (via increased glutathione o...