Resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy (RXES) has developed in the past decade as a powerful tool to probe the chemical state of a metal center and in situ study chemical reactions. We have used it to monitor spectral changes associated with the reduction of osmium(VI) nitrido complexes to the osmium(III) ammine state by the biologically relevant reducing agent, glutathione. RXES difference maps are consistent with the proposed DFT mechanism and the formation of two stable osmium(IV) intermediates, thereby supporting the overall pathway for the reduction of these high-valent anticancer metal complexes for which reduction by thiols within cells may be essential to the antiproliferative activity.
Gilles Berger, Anna Wach, Jacinto Sá, Jakub Szlachetko. Reduction Mechanisms of Anticancer Osmium(VI) Complexes Revealed by Atomic Telemetry and Theoretical Calculations. Inorganic chemistry. 2021 May 03;60(9):6663-6671
PMID: 33871984
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