Gold(I) and silver(I) complexes of 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid: Structural studies and antitumour activity

The 2:1 and 1:2 adducts of Au(I) and 1:2 adducts of Ag(I) with the diphosphine 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid (dpmaa) have been prepared in high yields. Crystal structures are described for the neutral digold complex (AuCl)2(dpmaa) · 2thf (1) and the water-soluble bis-chelated complex [Au(dpmaa)2]Cl · H2O · CH3OH (2). The cytotoxicity of 2 was studied in tests with eight different cell lines and no significant activity was found.