Study of the Interaction of Some Potential Anticancer Gold(III) Complexes with Biologically Important Thiols Using NMR,UV–Vis,and Electrochemistry

The interaction of gold(III) complexes Au(en)Cl₂]Cl, Au(en)₂]Cl₃, Au(cis‐DACH)Cl₂]Cl, and Au(cis‐DACH)₂]Cl₃ (en = ethylenediamine, DACH = cis‐1,2‐diaminocyclohexane) with biologically important thiols, such as glutathione (GSH), dl ‐penicillamine (PSH), mercaptoacetic acid (MAA), and N‐(2‐mercaptopropionyl)glycine (MPG), has been studied using ¹H, ¹³C NMR, UV–vis spectroscopy and electrochemistry in aqueous solution. Kinetic data revealed that the reactivity of their substitution reaction followed the order: Au(en)Cl₂]⁺ > Au(en)₂]³⁺ > Au(cis‐DACH)Cl₂]⁺ > Au(cis‐DACH)₂]³⁺. The thiol reactivity increased with decreasing its size, viz. MAA ≫ MPG > PSH > GSH. Square wave stripping voltammetry displayed peaks for Au(III) and Au(I) at +0.875 V and +1.4 V respectively. The interaction of the complexes with thiols resulted in reduction of gold(III) to gold(I) and thiol ligands (RSH) were oxidized to disulfide (RSSR).