Dinuclear triphenylphosphinegold(I) sulfanylcarboxylates: Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines.

Compounds of the type [(AuPPh(3))(2)(xspa)]; H(2)xspa [x:p=3-phenyl-, f=3-(2-furyl)-, t=3-(2-thienyl)-, -o-py=3-(2-pyridyl)-, Clp=3-(2-chlorophenyl)-, -o-mp=3-(2-methoxyphenyl)-, -p-mp=3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, -o-hp=3-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-, -p-hp=3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-, -diBr-o-hp=3-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-; spa=2-sulfanyl propenoato] were synthesized and characterized by IR and NMR ((1)H, (13)C and (31)P) spectroscopy and by FAB mass spectrometry. The structures of [(AuPPh(3))(2)(Clpspa)], [(AuPPh(3))(2)(o-hpspa)], [(AuPPh(3))(2)(p-hpspa)].MeOH and [(AuPPh(3))(2)(diBr-o-hpspa)].2Me(2)CO show the dinuclear nature of the complexes with the two gold atoms, one of which is also O-bonded to an O atom of the carboxylate group, bonded to the S atom. The in vitro antitumor activities against the HeLa-229, A2780 and A2780cis cell lines were determined and the compounds were found to be highly effective, in particular against the A2780cis cell line, with eight of the nine compounds having IC(50) values better than that of cisplatin. This behavior is indicative of a high ability to circumvent the cellular resistance to this drug.