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.