Syntheses,Crystal Structures and Cytotoxities of Silver (I) Complexes of 2,2′‐Bipyridines and 1,10‐Phenanthroline

The syntheses, characterizations and in vitro cytotoxities of seven soluble silver (I) compounds (1–7) with 2,2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 5,5′‐dimethyl‐2,2′‐bipyridine (dmbpy) and 1, 10‐phenanthroline (phen) are described. Two of the complexes, [Ag(dmbpy)(NO₃)] (1) and [Ag(dmbpy)]ClO₄(2), have been structurally established by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, which reveals the silver(I) atom in compound 1 is in a Y‐shape coordination geometry with two N atoms (av. Ag? N = 227.8 pm) from a chelate dmbpy ligand and an O atom (Ag? O=221.8(4) pm) from a monodentate nitrate. The Ag(I) atom in compound 2 is three‐coordinated by three N atoms, two of which are from a chelate dmbpy, and one from an acetonitrile ligand. The seven compounds showed strong cytotoxities in vitro to both normal and carcinoma cells.