Catalytic Hydrogenation of Cytotoxic Aldehydes Using Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NADH) in Cell Growth Media

We
demonstrate, for the first time, that pentamethylcyclopentadienyl
(Cp*) iridium pyridinecarboxamidate complexes (5) can
promote catalytic hydride transfer from nicotinamide
adenine dinucleotide to aldehydes in pH 7.4 buffered cell growth media
at 37 °C and in the presence of various biomolecules and metal
ions. Stoichiometric hydride transfer studies suggest that the unique
reactivity of 5, compared to other common Cp*Ir complexes,
is at least in part due to the increased hydride transfer efficiency
of its iridium hydride species 5-H. Complex 5 exhibits excellent reductase enzyme-like activity in the hydrogenation
of cytotoxic aldehydes that have been implicated in a variety of diseases.