Gold complexes with potentially tri- and tetradentate phosphinothiolate ligands

Reactions of [Au(PPh3)Cl], (Bu4N)[AuCl4] and the organometallic gold complex [Au(damp-C1,N)Cl2] (damp- = 2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl) with the potentially tri- and tetradentate proligands PhP(C6H3-SH-2-R-3)2 (H2L1a, R = SiMe3; H2L1b, R = H) and P(C6H4-SH-2)3 (H3L2) result in the formation of mono- or dinuclear gold complexes depending on the precursor used. Monomeric complexes of the type [AuL1Cl] are formed upon the reaction with [Au(damp-C1,N)Cl2], but small amounts of dinuclear [AuL1]2 complexes with gold in two different oxidation states, +1 and +3, have been isolated as side-products. The dinuclear compounds are obtained in better yields from [AuCl4]-. A dinuclear complex having two Au(III) centers can be isolated from the reaction of [Au(PPh3)Cl] with H3L2, whereas from the reaction with H2L1b the mononuclear [Au(Ph3P)HL1b] is obtained, which contains a three-coordinate gold atom. Comparatively short gold-gold distances have been found in the dinuclear complexes (2.978(2) and 3.434(1) A). They are indicative of weak gold-gold interactions, which is unusual for gold(III).     

Synthesis, structural characterization, solution behavior, and in vitro antiproliferative properties of a series of gold complexes with 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole as ligand: comparisons of gold(III) versus gold(I) and mononuclear versus binuclear derivatives

A variety of gold(III) and gold(I) derivatives of 2-(2'-pyridyl)benzimidazole (pbiH) were synthesized and fully characterized and their antiproliferative properties evaluated in a representative ovarian cancer cell line. The complexes include the mononuclear species [(pbi)AuX(2)] (X = Cl, 1; OAc, 2), [(pbiH)AuCl] (3), [(pbiH)Au(PPh(3))][PF(6)] (4-PF(6)), and [(pbi)Au(L)] (L = PPh(3), 5; TPA, 6), and the binuclear gold(I)/gold(I) and gold(I)/gold(III) derivatives [(PPh(3))(2)Au(2)(μ(2)-pbi)][PF(6)] (10-PF(6)), [ClAu(μ(3)-pbi)AuCl(2)] (7),and [(PPh(3))Au(μ(3)-pbi)AuX(2)][PF(6)] (X = Cl, 8-PF(6); OAc, 9-PF(6)). The molecular structures of 6, 7, and 10-PF(6) were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. The chemical behavior of these compounds in solution was analyzed both by cyclic voltammetry in DMF and absorption UV-vis spectroscopy in an aqueous buffer. Overall, the stability of these gold compounds was found to be acceptable for the cellular studies. For all complexes, relevant antiproliferative activities in vitro were documented against A2780 human ovarian carcinoma cells, either resistant or sensitive to cisplatin, with IC(50) values falling in the low micromolar or even in the nanomolar range. The investigated gold compounds were found to overcome resistance to cisplatin to a large degree. Results are interpreted and discussed in the frame of current knowledge on cytotoxic and antitumor gold compounds.     

Neutral gold complexes with tridentate SNS thiosemicarbazide ligands

Na[AuCl(4)]·2H(2)O reacts with tridentate thiosemicarbazide ligands, H(2)L1, derived from N-[N',N'-dialkylamino(thiocarbonyl)]benzimidoyl chloride and thiosemicarbazides under formation of air-stable, green [AuCl(L1)] complexes. The organic ligands coordinate in a planar SNS coordination mode. Small amounts of gold(I) complexes of the composition [AuCl(L3)] are formed as side-products, where L3 is an S-bonded 5-diethylamino-3-phenyl-1-thiocarbamoyl-1,2,4-triazole. The formation of the triazole L3 can be explained by the oxidation of H(2)L1 to an intermediate thiatriazine L2 by Au(3+), followed by a desulfurization reaction with ring contraction. The chloro ligands in the [AuCl(L1)] complexes can readily be replaced by other monoanionic ligands such as SCN(-) or CN(-) giving [Au(SCN)(L1)] or [Au(CN)(L1)] complexes. The complexes described in this paper represent the first examples of fully characterized neutral Gold(III) thiosemicarbazone complexes. All the [AuCl(L1)] compounds present a remarkable cell growth inhibition against human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. However, systematic variation of the alkyl groups in the N(4)-position of the thiosemicarbazone building blocks as well as the replacement of the chloride by thiocyanate ligands do not considerably influence the biological activity. On the other hand, the reduction of Au(III) to Au(I) leads to a considerable decrease of the cytotoxicity.     

Amine-amide equilibrium in gold(III) complexes and a gold(III)-gold(I) aurophilic bond

The ligands HN(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BPMA, and PhCH2N(CH2-2-C5H4N)2, BBPMA, react with Na[AuCl4] to give the cationic complexes [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+, respectively. The amido complex [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ undergoes easy inversion at the amido nitrogen atom and can be reversibly protonated by triflic acid to give [AuCl(BPMA)]2+. The complex [AuCl(BBPMA)]2+ is easily decomposed in aqueous solution by cleavage of a carbon-nitrogen bond or, in dilute HCl solution, by protonation of the ligand to give [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] The complexes [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl4] and [BBPMAH2]Cl[AuCl2] can be formed by direct reaction of BBPMA with H[AuCl4]. Unusual forms of gold(III)...gold(III) and gold(III)...gold(I) aurophilic bonding are observed in the salts [AuCl(BPMA-H)][PF6] and [AuCl(BPMA-H)][AuCl2], respectively. The first comparison of the structures of gold(III) amine and amido complexes, in the cations [AuCl(BPMA-H)]+ and [AuCl(BPMA)]2+, indicates that there is little ppi-dpi bonding in the amido-gold bond and that the amide exerts a stronger trans influence than the amine group.     

Unprecedented formation of novel phosphonodithioate ligands from diferrocenyldithiadiphosphetane disulfide

The reaction of the phosphetane disulfide, FcP(S)S 2P(S)Fc ( 1) (Fc = (eta (5)-C 5H 5)Fe(eta (5)-C 5H 4)), the ferrocenyl analogue of the Lawesson reagent, with gold and palladium complexes leads to the unprecedented formation of phosphonodithioate ligands upon coordination to the metal centers. The reaction of 1 with gold complexes such as [AuCl(PR 3)] affords the species [Au{S 2P(OH)Fc}(PR 3)] (PR 3 = PPh 3 ( 2), PPh 2Me ( 3)), in which the phosphonodithioate ligand Fc(OH)PS 2 (-) has been formed. The same ligand is present in the compound [Au 2{S 2P(OH)Fc} 2].[N(PPh 3) 2]Cl ( 4), obtained by reaction of 1 with [N(PPh 3) 2][AuCl 2]. It crystallizes with one molecule of [N(PPh 3) 2]Cl, whereby complex 4 acts as an anion receptor and forms strong hydrogen bonds between the chloro and the hydroxyl groups. The reaction with palladium derivatives is different; two complexes, [Pd 2(S 4OP 2Fc 2) 2] ( 5) and [Pd 4Cl 4(S 4OP 2Fc 2) 2] ( 6), are obtained in molar ratio 2:1 and 1:1, respectively. In these complexes a new phosphonodithioate ligand is present and probably arises from the condensation of two molecules of Fc(OH)PS 2 (-). Complex 5 has also been characterized by X-ray methods.     

Structural, photophysical, and catalytic properties of Au(I) complexes with 4-substituted pyridines

Ionic gold(I) complexes with general formula of [Au(Py)2][AuCl2] and [Au(Py)2][PF6] (Py = 4-substituted pyridines) have been synthesized. Structures of five Au(I) complexes and a Ag(I) complex were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Evidence for cationic aggregation of [Au(py)2][PF6] complexes in solution was obtained by conductivity measurements and by the isosbestic point observed from variable temperature UV-visible absorption spectra. All compounds were luminous in the solid state. Calculations employing density functional theory were performed to shed light on the nature of the electronic transitions. While the [Au(4-dmapy)2][AuCl2] (4-dmapy = 4-dimethylaminopyridine) and [Au(4-pic)2][AuCl2] (4-pic = 4-picoline) emissions were found to be mainly ligand in nature, their [PF6](-) counterparts involved a Au...Au-interaction imbedded in the highest occupied molecular orbital. [Au(4-dmapy)2][AuCl2] was found to be an efficient catalyst for Suzuki cross-coupling of aryl bromide and phenylboronic acid.     

Rhenium(V) oxo complexes with acetylacetone derived Schiff bases: structure and catalytic epoxidation

Substitution reactions of rhenium(V) oxo precursors [ReOCl3(PPh3)2] or [NBu4][ReOCl4] with the bidentate acetylacetone-derived ketoamine ligands APOH = 4-anilino-3-penten-2-one, DPOH = 4-[2,6-dimethylanilino]-3-penten-2-one, and MTPOH = 4-[2-(methylthio)anilino]-3-penten-2-one gave the complexes [ReO(APO)Cl2(PPh3)] (1), [ReO(DPO)Cl2(PPh3)] (2), and [NBu4][ReOLCl3] (3, L = APO; 4, L = DPO; 5, L = MTPO), respectively. All complexes exhibit only one ketoamino chelate, independent of the amount of ligand added to the rhenium precursors. The complexes were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. X-ray crystal structures of the complexes 1, 2, 4, and 5, including that of MTPOH, were determined, revealing the trans position of the two oxygen atoms and the trans-Cl,Cl conformation in 1 and 2, in contrast to most other rhenium complexes of this type where the cis-Cl,Cl conformation is observed. Coordination of the potentially tridentate ligand MTPOH in 5 is bidentate with a dangling thioether substituent. Compound 2 shows catalytic activity in the oxidation of cis-cyclooctene with tert-butylhydroperoxide.     

Synthesis of luminescent gold(I) and gold(III) complexes with a triphosphine ligand

We have synthesized and characterized a series of trinuclear gold(I) complexes [(AuX)(3)(mu-triphos)] (triphos = bis(2-diphenylphosphinoethyl)phenylphosphine; X = Cl 1, Br 2, I 3, C(6)F(5) 4) and di- and trinuclear gold(III) complexes [[Au(C(6)F(5))(3)](n)(mu-triphos)] (n = 2 (5), 3 (6)). The crystal structure of 6 [[Au(C(6)F(5))(3)](3)(mu-triphos)] has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies, which show the triphosphine in a conformation resulting in very long gold-gold distances, probably associated with the steric requirements of the tris(pentafluorophenyl)gold(III) units. Complex 6 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P(-1) with a = 12.7746(16) A, b = 18.560(2) A, c = 21.750(3) A, alpha = 98.215(3) degrees, beta = 101.666(3) degrees, gamma = 96.640(3) degrees, and Z = 2. Chloride substitutions in complex 1 afford trinuclear gold(I) complexes [(AuX)(3)(mu-triphos)] (X = Fmes (1,3,5-tris(trifluoromethyl)phenyl) 7, p-SC(6)H(4)Me 8, SCN 9) and [Au(3)Cl(3)(-)(n)()(S(2)CNR(2))(n)(mu-triphos)] (R = Me, n = 3 (10), 2 (12), 1 (14); R = CH(2)Ph, n = 3 (11), 2 (13), 1 (15)). The luminescence properties of these complexes in the solid state have been studied; at low temperature most of them are luminescent, including the gold(III) derivative 6, with the intensity and the emission maxima being clearly influenced by the nature and the number of the ligands bonded to the gold centers.     

Luminescence and mesogenic properties in crown-ether-isocyanide or carbene gold(I) complexes: luminescence in solution, in the solid, in the mesophase, and in the isotropic liquid state

A crown ether isocyanide CNR (R = benzo-15-crown-5) has been synthesized by dehydration of the corresponding formamide. Substitution reactions with the appropriate gold(I) precursors afford the luminescent mononuclear derivatives [AuX(CNR)] (X = Cl, C 6F 5, Br, I), [Au(C 6F 4OCH 2C 6H 4OC nH 2 n+1 - p)(CNR)] ( n = 4, 8, 10, 12), and [Au(C 6F 4OCH 2C 6H 2-3,4,5-(OC n H 2 n+1 ) 3(CNR)] ( n = 4, 8, 12). X-ray diffraction studies of [AuCl(CNR)] show the molecules associated in a tetranuclear manner with an antiparallel orientation and gold-gold distances of 3.420 and 3.427 A (Au...Au...Au angles are 121.2 degrees ). These tetranuclear units generate infinite zigzag chains through longer Au...Au distances of 3.746 A and weak C-H...O nonclassic interactions. Nucleophilic attack to the coordinated isocyanide in [AuCl(CNR)] by methanol or a primary amine produces the carbene derivatives [AuCl{C((NHR)(OMe)}] and [AuCl{C(NHR')(NHR)}] (R' = Me, n-Bu). The ether crown in these complexes is able to coordinate sodium from NaClO 4, affording the corresponding bimetallic complexes (Na/Au = 1:1). The derivatives containing one alkoxy chain are liquid crystals, displaying a smectic C mesophase (for n > 4), whereas the trialkoxy derivatives display unidentified or smectic C mesophases, depending on the alkyl chain length. After complexation of sodium salts, the mesogenic behavior is lost. All of the derivatives are luminescent at room temperature in the solid state with emission maxima in the range 405-550 nm; they emit at 77 K from 410 to 572 nm. Only the ligand and the fluoroaryl complexes emit in solution at room temperature, but all of the compounds are luminescent at 77 K. Very interestingly, some fluoroaryl derivatives with alkoxy chains are luminescent not only in the solid, and in solution, but also in the mesophase, and in the isotropic liquid at moderate temperatures. These are the first metal complexes ever reported to show luminescence in the isotropic liquid state.     

Aurophilicity in gold(I) thiosemicarbazone clusters

The reaction of the phosphine thiosemicarbazone ligands HLPH and HLPMe with Au(I) ions yields the gold complexes [Au(3)(HLPH)(2)Cl(2)]Cl·2MeOH (1·2MeOH) and [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)] (2). The structures determined by X Ray diffraction, [Au(3)(HLPH)(2)Cl(2)]Cl·4MeOH (1·4MeOH) and [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)](2) (2), are the first examples of gold(I) thiosemicarbazone clusters showing aurophilicity. The structure of the trinuclear cation 1 contains the Au(1) atom located in an inversion centre, being connected to another gold(I) atom, Au(2), through a phosphino thiosemicarbazone molecule which acts as a S,P-bridging ligand. Additionally, every gold(I) atom in the trinuclear cation 1 assembles into trinuclear linear cluster units by means of close gold-gold interactions, being connected through the crystal cell in a 2D zigzag mode. The crystal structure of [Au(2)(HLPMe)Cl(2)](2) (2) contains one discrete molecule [(AuCl)(2)(HLPMe)] in the asymmetric unit, which is further assembled into tetranuclear [(AuCl)(2)(HLPMe)](2) units by means of close gold-gold interactions. Both clusters are highly luminescent in solution.     

A new, easily recyclable arylating agent based on a diphosphino-digold(I) complex

The synthesis of two organogold(I) complexes, [(Au(NCN))2(dppbp)] (6) and [(Au(Phebox))2(dppbp)] (9), and their application in subsequent transmetalating reactions are described. A trinuclear organogold(I) complex, [(AuCl)3(tdpppb)] (4) is also reported, which exhibits a surprisingly high solubility in dichloromethane. It was found that 6 and 9 can cleanly transfer the anionic NCN-([C(6)H(3)(CH(2)NMe(2))2-2,6]-) or Phebox-([2,6-bis(oxazolinyl)phenyl]-) moiety to Ti(IV) and Pd(II) centers, respectively. The coproduct [(AuCl)2(dppbp)] (3, dppbp is [4-Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)]2 (1)) formed during this transmetalation reaction, precipitates almost quantitatively from the reaction mixture (toluene) and can thus be separated by simple filtration. In comparison, [AuCl(PPh3)], formed as the coproduct in the transmetalation reaction of [Au(NCN)(PPh3)] with metal salts, has a higher solubility in apolar solvents and thus is more difficult to separate from the resultant organometallic complex. Digold complex 6 has been characterized by NMR spectroscopy and crystallographic analyses. These analyses show that the two gold units are essentially independent. The formation of a dimetallic transmetalating agent based on gold(I) had no effect on its transmetalating properties.     

Synthesis, structures and reactions of cyclometallated gold complexes containing (2-diphenylarsino-n-methyl)phenyl (n = 5, 6)

Reaction of (C6H3-2-AsPh2-n-Me)Li (n = 5 or 6) with [AuBr(AsPh3)] at -78 degrees C gives the corresponding cyclometallated gold(I) complexes [Au2[(mu-C6H3-n-Me)AsPh2]2] [n = 5, (1); n = 6, (9)]. 1 undergoes oxidative addition with halogens and with dibenzoyl peroxide to give digold(II) complexes [Au2X2[(mu-C6H3-5-Me)AsPh2]2] [X = Cl (2a), Br (2b), I (2c) and O2CPh (3)] containing a metal-metal bond between the 5d9 metal centres. Reaction of 2a with AgO2CMe or of 3 with C6F5Li gives the corresponding digold(II) complexes in which X = O2CMe (4) and C6F5 (6), respectively. The Au-Au distances increase in the order 4 < 2a < 2b < 2c < 6, following the covalent binding tendency of the axial ligand. Like the analogous phosphine complexes, 2a-2c and 6 in solution rearrange to form C-C coupled digold(I) complexes [Au2X2[mu-2,2-Ph2As(5,5-Me2C6H3C6H3)AsPh2]] [X = Cl (5a), X = Br (5b), X = I (5c) and C6F5 (7)] in which the gold atoms are linearly coordinated by As and X. In contrast, the products of oxidative additions to 9 depend markedly on the halogens. Reaction of 9 with chlorine gives the gold(I)-gold(III) complex, [ClAu[mu-2-Ph2As(C6H3-6-Me)]AuCl[(6-MeC6H3)-2-AsPh2]-kappa2As,C] (10), which contains a four-membered chelate ring, Ph2As(C6H3-6-Me), in the coordination sphere of the gold(III) atom. When 10 is heated, the ring is cleaved, the product being the digold(I) complex [ClAu[mu-2-Ph2As(C6H3-6-Me)]Au[AsPh2(2-Cl-3-Me-C6H3)]] (11). Reaction of 9 with bromine at 50 degrees C gives a monobromo digold(I) complex (12), which is similar to 11 except that the 2-position of the substituted aromatic ring bears hydrogen instead halogen. Reaction of 9 with iodine gives a mixture of a free tertiary arsine, (2-I-3-MeC6H3)AsPh2 (13), a digold diiodo compound (14) analogous to 11, and a gold(I)-gold(III) zwitterionic complex [I2Au(III)[(mu-C6H3-2-AsPh2-6-Me)]2Au(I)] (15) in which the bridging units are arranged head-to-head between the metal atoms. The structures of 2a-2c and 4-15 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The different behaviour of 1 and 9 toward halogens mirrors that of their phosphine analogues; the 6-methyl substituent blocks C-C coupling of the aryl residues in the initially formed oxidative addition product. In the case of 9, the greater lability of the Au-As bond in the initial oxidative addition product may account for the more complex behaviour of this system compared with that of its phosphine analogue.     

Synthesis and structures of cyclic gold complexes containing diphosphine ligands and luminescent properties of the high nuclearity species

A mixture of cyclic gold(I) complexes [Au(2)(μ-cis-dppen)(2)]X(2) (X = OTf 1, PF(6)3) and [Au(cis-dppen)(2)]X (X = OTf 2, PF(6)4) is obtained from the reaction of [Au(tht)(2)]X (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) with one equivalent of cis-dppen [dppen = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene]. The analogous reaction with trans-dppen or dppa [dppa = bis(diphenylphosphino)acetylene] affords the cyclic trinuclear [Au(3)(μ-trans-dppen)(3)]X(3) (X = OTf 11, PF(6)12) and tetranuclear [Au(4)(μ-dppa)(4)]X(4) (X = OTf 13, PF(6)14, ClO(4)15) gold complexes, respectively. Recrystallization of 15 from CH(2)Cl(2)/MeOH yielded a crystal of the octanuclear gold cluster [Au(8)Cl(2)(μ-dppa)(4)](ClO(4))(2)16. Attempts to prepare dicationic binuclear gold(II) species from the reaction of a mixture of 3 and 4 with halogens gave a mixture of products, the components of which confirmed to be acyclic binuclear gold(I) [Au(2)X(2)(cis-dppen)] (X = I 5, Br 7) and cyclic mononuclear gold(III) [AuX(2)(cis-dppen)]PF(6) (X = I 6, Br 8) complexes. Complexes 11-14 reveal weak emission in butyronitrile glass at 77 K, but they are non-emissive at room temperature. Ab initio modelling was performed to determine the charge state of the gold atoms involved. Extensive structural comparisons were made to experimental data to benchmark these calculations and rationalize the conformations.     

Chemical and Biological Studies of Dichloro(2-((dimethylamino)methyl)phenyl)gold(III)

Several new organogold(III) derivatives of the type [AuX(2)(damp)] (damp = o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)NMe(2)) have been prepared [X = CN, SCN, dtc, or X(2) = tm; dtc = R(2)NCS(2) (R = Me (dmtc) or Et (detc)); tm = SCH(CO(2))CH(2)CO(2)Na] together with [AuCl(tpca)(damp)]Cl (tpca = o-Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)CO(2)H), [Au(dtc)(damp)]Y (Y = Cl, BPh(4)) and K[Au(CN)(3)(damp)]. The (13)C NMR spectra of these and previous derivatives have been fully assigned. In [Au(dtc)(2)(damp)] and K[Au(CN)(3)(damp)], the damp ligand is coordinated only through carbon, as shown by X-ray crystallography and/or NMR. [Au(detc)(2)(damp)] has space group C2/c, with a = 29.884(4) ?, b = 13.446(2) ?, c = 12.401(2) ?, beta = 99.45(3)(o), V = 4915 ?(3), Z = 8, and R = 0.057 for 1918 reflections. The damp and one detc ligand are monodentate, the other detc is bidentate; in solution, the complex shows dynamic behavior, with the detc ligands appearing equivalent. The crystal structure of [Au(dmtc)(damp)]BPh(4) [Pna2(1), a = 26.149(5) ?, b = 11.250(2) ?, c = 11.921(2) ?, V = 3507 ?(3), Z = 4, R = 0.073, 1772 reflections] shows both ligands to be bidentate in the cation, but the two Au-S distances are nonequivalent. The crystal structure of [Au(tm)(damp)] has also been determined [P2(1)/n, a = 18.267(7) ?, b = 9.618(3) ?, c = 18.938(4) ?, beta = 113.45(3)(o), V = 3053 ?(3), Z = 8, R = 0.079, 1389 reflections]. The tm is bound through sulfur and the carboxyl group which allows five-membered ring formation. In all three structures, the trans-influence of the sigma-bonded aryl group is apparent. [AuCl(2)(damp)] has been tested in vitroagainst a range of microbial strains and several human tumor lines, where it displays differential cytotoxicity similar to that of cisplatin. Against the ZR-75-1 human tumor xenograft, both [AuCl(2)(damp)] and cisplatin showed limited activity.     

Structural organization and dimensionality at the hands of weak intermolecular Au···Au, Au···X and X···X (X = Cl, Br, I) interactions

The salts K[AuCl(2)(CN)(2)]·H(2)O (1), K[AuBr(2)(CN)(2)]·2H(2)O (2) and K[AuI(2)(CN)(2)]·?H(2)O (3) were synthesized and structurally characterized. Compound 1 crystallizes as a network of square planar [AuCl(2)(CN)(2)](-) anions separated by K(+) cations. However, 2 and 3 feature 2-D sheets built by the aggregation of [AuX(2)(CN)(2)](-) anions via weak, intermolecular X···X interactions. The mixed anion double salts K(3)[Au(CN)(2)](2)[AuBr(2)(CN)(2)]·H(2)O (4) and K(5)[Au(CN)(2)](4)[AuI(2)(CN)(2)]·2H(2)O (5) were also synthesized by cocrystallization of K[Au(CN)(2)] and the respective K[AuX(2)(CN)(2)] salts. Similarly to 2 and 3, the [Au(CN)(2)](-) and [AuX(2)(CN)(2)](-) anions form 2-D sheets via weak, intermolecular Au(I)···X and Au(I)···Au(I) interactions. In the case of 5, a rare unsupported Au(I)···Au(III) interaction of 3.5796(5) ? is also seen between the two anionic units. Despite the presence of Au(I) aurophilic interactions of 3.24-3.45 ?, neither 4 nor 5 exhibit any detectable emission at room temperature, suggesting that the presence of Au(I)···X or Au(I)···Au(III) interactions may affect the emissive properties.     

Mixed-metal triangular trinuclear complexes: dimers of gold-silver mixed-metal complexes from gold(I) carbeniates and silver(I) 3,5-diphenylpyrazolates

Dimers of trinuclear mixed gold-silver compounds are obtained by the reaction of a gold(I) carbeniate, [Au(mu-C(OEt)=NC6H4-p-CH3)]3, with a silver(I) pyrazolate, [Ag(mu-3,5-Ph2pz)]3. The crystalline products are the mixed-metal species Au(carb)Ag2(mu-3,5-Ph2pz)2 and Au2(carb)2Ag(mu-3,5-Ph2pz)CCH2Cl2.     

Synthesis and biological activity of ester- and amide-functionalized imidazolium salts and related water-soluble coinage metal N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

N-Heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand precursors, namely, HIm(A)Cl [1,3-bis(2-ethoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride] and HIm(B)Cl {1,3-bis[2-(diethylamino)-2-oxoethyl]-1H-imidazol-3-ium chloride}, functionalized with hydrophilic groups on the imidazole rings have been synthesized and were used in the synthesis of corresponding carbene complexes of silver(I) and copper(I), {[Im(A)]AgCl}, {[Im(A)]CuCl}, and {[Im(B)](2)Ag}Cl. Related Au(I)NHC complexes {[Im(A)]AuCl} and {[Im(B)]AuCl} have been obtained by transmetalation using the silver carbene precursor. These compounds were characterized by several spectroscopic techniques including NMR and mass spectroscopy. HIm(B)Cl and the gold(I) complexes {[Im(A)]AuCl} and {[Im(B)]AuCl} were also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The cytotoxic properties of the NHC complexes have been assessed in various human cancer cell lines, including cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant cells. The silver(I) complex {[Im(B)](2)Ag}Cl was found to be the most active, with IC(50) values about 2-fold lower than those achieved with cisplatin in C13*-resistant cells. Growth-inhibitory effects evaluated in human nontransformed cells revealed a preferential cytotoxicity of {[Im(B)](2)Ag}Cl versus neoplastic cells. Gold(I) and silver(I) carbene complexes were also evaluated for their ability to in vitro inhibit the enzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR). The results of this investigation showing that TrxR appeared markedly inhibited by both gold(I) and silver(I) derivatives at nanomolar concentrations clearly point out this selenoenzyme as a protein target for silver(I) in addition to gold(I) complexes.     

Synthesis, structures, and electrochemistry of gold(III) ethylenediamine complexes and interactions with guanosine 5'-monophosphate

[Au(en)Cl(2)]Cl.2H(2)O, where en = ethylenediamine (1,2-diaminoethane), has been synthesized, and its structure has been solved for the first time by the single-crystal X-ray diffraction method. The complex has square-planar geometry about Au(III), and the anionic Cl- is located in the apical position and at a distance of 3.3033(10) A compared to 2.2811(9) and 2.2836(11) A for the coordinated Cl-. [Au(en)Cl2]Cl.2H2O belongs to the space group Pbca with a = 11.5610(15) A, b = 12.6399(17) A, c = 13.2156(17) A, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees , and Z = 8. Bond lengths of Au-N are 2.03 A. [Au(en)Cl2]Cl.2H2O is less thermally stable than [Au(en)2]Cl3 because of the replacement of two Cl ligands by a second en ligand in the latter. Cyclic voltammetry shows that the formal potential of Au(III)/Au(0) becomes more negative in the series [AuCl4]-, [Au(en)Cl2]+, and [Au(en)2]3+. 1H, 13C, and 31P NMR reveal that in an aqueous solution [Au(en)Cl2]+ bonds to guanosine 5'-monophosphate, 5'-GMP (1:1 mole ratio), via N7, although the stability is not very high. NMR data also indicate that N7-O6 or N7-phosphate 5'-GMP chelation, as found in some gold(III) nucleotide complexes, is not present. The gold(III) complex undergoes hydrolysis at pH >2.5-3.0 and, therefore, N1 coordination to 5'-GMP is not observed. No direct coordination between 5'-GMP and [Au(en)2]Cl3 is observed.     

Auration, argentation, and mercuration reactions of an iridaphosphirene

The reactions of the iridaphosphirene complex [Ir{=C(tBu)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with either [AuCl(tht)] (tht = tetrahydrothiophene) or AgCl result in the products [Ir{=C(tBu)P[M(Cl)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2], M = Au or Ag. The aurated product can additionally be obtained on reaction of the iridaphosphirene with [AuCl(CNtBu)], via loss of the isocyanide ligand. Treatment of [Ir{=C(tBu)P(Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2] with [AuCl(PPh3)] in the presence of silver triflate leads to the isolation of the salt, [Ir{=C(tBu)P[Au(PPh3)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2][SO3CF3]. Reaction of the iridaphosphirene with PhHgCl in the absence or presence of silver triflate affords the mercurated species [Ir{=C(tBu)P[Hg(Ph)](Cy)}(CO)(PPh3)2]X, X = Cl or CF3SO3, respectively. The former exhibits a weakly mercury-coordinated chloride ion. The X-ray crystal structures of all of the complexes are described.     

Structure and dynamics of tetrakis(thiophosphinato)resorcinarene complexes of silver(I), gold(I), and palladium(II)

The coordination chemistry of the tetrakis(thiophosphinato)resorcinarene sulfur-donor ligands [(C6H2CH{CH2CH2Ph})4{OC(O)R}4{OP(=S)Ph2}4] (L), where R = OCH2Ph, 4-C6H4CH3, C6H11, C4H3S, or OCH2CCH, is reported. Both silver(I) and gold(I) form cationic complexes of the type [LM2]2+, in which the ligand acts as a bis(chelate) in forming complexes with linear S-M-S (M = Ag or Au) stereochemistry. Gold(I) also forms the unusual complex [L(AuCl)2][LAu2]2+, which forms a supramolecular polymer through intermolecular aurophilic attractions. Palladium(II) forms the complex [LPd2Cl2(mu-Cl)2], in which the dipalladium(II) unit extends the natural bowl structure of the resorcinarene. The solid-state and solution conformations of the complexes, as determined by X-ray structure determination and NMR spectroscopy, respectively, are similar, but several complexes were found to exhibit dynamic behavior in solution, involving either conformational mobility of the resorcinarene unit or intermolecular ligand exchange.