The Department of Inorganic Chemistry guarantees the studies in the fields of Inorganic Chemistry, Bioinorganic Chemistry, and Chemistry for Teaching in bachelor's, master's and doctoral study programmes.
As a part of our research, we focus on the preparation and study of new coordination compounds of transition metals, in particular, on the development of new compounds with medicinal application potential (e.g. substances with antitumour, anti-inflammatory or antidiabetic activity or contrast agents for diagnostic imaging methods) or compounds with interesting magnetic, optical or catalytic properties with industrial application potential (e.g. high-density storage media, various types of sensors).
Our teaching activites, as a guarantor of Chemistry for Teaching studies at the Faculty of Science of Palacký University, are also focused on increasing pupils' and students' interest in science and motivation to study science, co-organizing chemical Olympics and also on extracurricular chemical activities for primary and secondary school students.
News
Student Publication in Dalton Transactions
22. May 2024
Publication entitled "Picoplatin binding to proteins: X-ray structures and mass spectrometry data on the adducts with lysozyme and ribonuclease A" (authors: G. Ferraro, T. Lyčková, L. Massai, P. Štarha, L. Messori, A. Merlino) has been published in the chemistry journal Dalton Transactions.
In this article, the reactivity of the Pt(II) anticancer compound picoplatin (cis-ammine-dichlorido-(2-methylpyridine)platinum(II) complex) with the model proteins hen egg white lysozyme (HEWL) and bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) was investigated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (MS) and X-ray crystallography. MS data show binding of Pt to both proteins, with fragments retaining the 2-methylpyridine ligand. Crystallography identifies different binding sites on the two proteins, highlighting a different behaviour of picoplatin in the absence or presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The data suggest that the presence of DMSO favours the loss of 2-methylpyridine and alters the ability of the Pt compound to bind to the proteins. This study provides important insights into the pharmacological profile of picoplatin and supports the conclusion that coordinating solvents should not be used to evaluate the biological activities of Pt-based drugs.
Student Publication in Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers
13. December 2023
Publication entitled „2-Formylphenoxyacetic acid Schiff bases: a promising ligand scaffold for readily available trigonal prismatic Co(II) single-ion magnets" (authors: Kamil Kotrle, Ivan Nemec, Peter Antal, Kamila Petrželová, Erik Čižmár, Radovan Herchel) has been published in the chemistry journal Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers.
This work is focused on the preparation and characterization of a series of cobalt complexes with Schiff base ligands that tend to adopt the shape of a trigonal prism. These complexes were synthesized, structurally characterized, and subsequently subjected to magnetic measurements using magnetometry and EPR spectroscopy. It was found that the complexes exhibit single-molecule magnet properties in the presence of a magnetic field. One of the complexes was magnetically diluted, revealing single-molecule magnet properties even in a zero field. These properties were further investigated through theoretical calculations.
Student Publication in Dalton Transactions
12. December 2023
Publication entitled „Trigonal prismatic coordination geometry imparted by a macrocyclic ligand: an approach to large axial magnetic anisotropy for Co(II)" (authors: E. Zahradníková, J. P. Sutter, P. Halaš, B. Drahoš ) has been published in the chemistry journal Dalton Transactions.
In this work, we were dealing with the preparation of cobalt(II) complexes with 17-membered pyridine-piperazine macrocyclic ligand with atypical shape of trigonal prism coordination polyhedron. The ligand is coordinated by all five N-donor atoms and the last position is occupied by monovalent coligand – halide or pseudohalide. A negative value of the D-parameter describing the magnetic anisotropy in the range -20 to -41 cm-1 was found for all complexes and the magnetic behaviour was investigated using theoretical calculations and magnetochemical measurements. Five field-induced single-molecule magnets were prepared and the magnetostructural correlations were investigated.
Publication in Coordination Chemistry Reviews
12. December 2023
Publication entitled "Platinum(IV) and platinum(II) anticancer complexes with biologically active releasable ligands" (authors: P. Štarha, R. Křikavová) has been published in Coordination Chemistry Reviews.
In this review article, we focused on a comprehensive overview of the structural types of multi-targeted Pt(IV) complexes, and they were categorized according to various criteria - a parent Pt(II) complex, a number and type of bioactive ligands, a type of second (innocent) axial ligand, and nuclearity. For the first time, we also reviewed multi-targeted Pt(II) complexes releasing cytotoxic Pt(II) species and bioactive ligand(s) as well, which also allowed a critical comparison of the two structural types. Special attention is paid to the discussion of the solution behaviour, activation and biological activity of the reviewed types of Pt complexes. Relevant comparison of these crucial features should be beneficial for future development of these pharmacologically highly perspective compounds.
