Cytotoxicity profiles for a series of triorganophosphinegold(I) dithiocarbamates and triorganophosphinegold(I) xanthates.

A series of triorganophosphinegold(1) dithiocarbamate (R(3)PAuS(2)CNR'(2)) and xanthate (R(3)PAuS(2)COR') complexes have been prepared and characterised spectroscopically. Based on crystallographic evidence, the molecules feature linear gold(1) geometries defined by sulphur and phosphorus donors. The complexes, along with a series of known anti-cancer agents, have been screened against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines. Uniformly, the dithiocarbamate derivatives are more active than their xanthate counterparts, with the most active complex being Et(3)PAu(S(2)CNEt(2)), and are more active than cisplatin in all cell lines screened but, not as potent as taxol.