Phosphinogold(I) dithiocarbamate complexes: Effect of the nature of phosphine ligand on anticancer properties

Frankline K. Keter, Ilia A. Guzei, Margo Nell, Werner E.Van Zyl, James Darkwa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

76 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The reactions of potassium salts of the dithiocarbamates L {where L = pyrazolyldithiocarbamate (L1), 3,5-dimethylpyrazolyldithiocarbamate (L2), or indazolyldithiocarbamate (L3)} with the gold precursors [AuCl(PPh3)], [Au2Cl2(dppe)], [Au2Cl2(dppp)], or [Au2Cl2(dpph)] lead to the new gold(I) complexes [AuL(PPh3)] (1-3), [Au2L2(dppe)] (4-6), [(Au2L2)(dppp)] (7-9), and [Au2(L) 2(dpph)] (10-12) {where dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, and dpph = 1,6-bis(diphenylphosphino) hexane}. These gold compounds were characterized by a combination of NMR and infrared spectroscopy, microanalysis, and mass spectrometry; and in selected cases by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Compounds 4-6, which have dppe ligands, are unstable in solution for prolonged periods, with 4 readily transforming to the Au18 cluster [Au18S 8(dppe)6]Cl2 (4a) in dichloromethane. Compounds 1-3 and 7-12 are all active against human cervical epithelioid carcinoma (HeLa) cells, but the most active compounds are 10 and 11, with IC50 values of 0.51 μM and 0.14 μM, respectively. Compounds 10 and 11 are more selective toward HeLa cells than they are toward normal cells, with selectivities of 25.0 and 70.5, respectively. Further tests, utilizing the 60-cell-line Developmental Therapeutics Program at the National Cancer Institute (U.S.A.), showed 10 and 11 to be active against nine other types of cancers.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2058-2067
Number of pages10
JournalInorganic Chemistry
Volume53
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 17 Feb 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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