Synthesis of new oxovanadium (IV) complexes of potential insulinmimetic activity with coumarin-3-carboxylic acid ligands and substituted derivatives

This work comprises the design and synthesis of four new oxovanadium (IV) complexes, a metal which possesses insulin-mimetic action. Coumarin-3-carboxylic acid and three of its 6 -and 6,8- derivatives were used as ligands. Coumarins are of interest due to their well-known biological properties and pharmacological applications; these include the insulino-sensibilizing effect of certain alcoxy-hydroxy-derivatives which might lead to the eventual existence of a synergetic effect with the active metal center. The synthesis of the vanadyl complexes was preceded by the synthesis of the coumarin-3-carboxylic acid and its 6-bromo- derivative, as well as the syntheses of three derivatives not previously reported: 6-bromo-8-metoxi-, 6-bromo-8-nitro-, and 6-bromo-8-hydroxy-, which were prepared by a Knoevenagel condensation reaction. The complexes, on their part, were prepared by a metathesis reaction between VOSO4 and the corresponding ligands, on the basis of methods reported for other vanadyl complexes and under strict pH control. The coumarin-3-carboxylic ligands and the derivatives were characterized by 1H-NMR-, FTIR- and UV-Vis-spectroscopy. In the case of the complexes, their paramagnetic character did not allow for NMR characterization, being thus identified by FT-IR-spectroscopy and by the quantitative determination of their vanadium contents. (author)