Synthesis and biological assays on cancer cells of dinuclear gold complexes with novel functionalised di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands

• New dinuclear diNHC Ag(I), Au(I, III) complexes have been synthesised.
• Ligand precursors were functionalised by click chemistry (CuAAC).
• Functionalised Au complexes display high antiproliferative activity and selectivity.
• The Au(III) complex quickly reacts with GSH to afford Au(I) complex and GSSG.

New dinuclear di(N-heterocyclic carbene) silver(I), gold(I) and gold(III) complexes have been synthesised and their antiproliferative effects towards various cancer cell lines have been screened. The di(N-heterocyclic carbene) ligands have a propylene linker between the carbene moieties and the imidazole backbone has been functionalised with a 1-benzyl- or 1-PEG-1,2,3-triazole ring (PEG = poly(ethylene glycol)) via a CuAAC (copper azido alkyne cycloaddition) reaction. The resulting gold(I) and gold(III) complexes display an antiproliferative activity superior to that of the unfunctionalised pristine complexes together with a higher selectivity towards cancerous cells with respect to healthy cells.

The dinuclear di(N-PEGylated-heterocyclic carbene) gold(I) and gold(III) complexes display a high antiproliferative efficiency, both in terms of activity and selectivity, towards various cancerous cell lines.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide