Synthesis, characterisation, supramolecular aggregation and biological activity of phosphine gold(I) complexes with monoanionic thiourea ligands

A series of phosphine gold(I) complexes containing monoanionic thiourea ligands has been synthesised by reaction of the appropriate precursor chloro complex, Ph3PAuCl, Cy3PAuCl, dppf(AuCl)2 [dppf = Fe(η5-C5H4PPh2)2] or dppe(AuCl)2 (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2) with the thiourea and Me3N base in methanol solution. The complexes have been fully characterised by elemental analysis, NMR spectrometry, electrospray mass spectrometry, and in several cases, by single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The crystallographic studies show that the ligands coordinate as a thiolate in each case with systematic variations in geometric parameters being readily ascribed to the influence of the N-bound substituents. In four of the structures, discernable supramolecular aggregation patterns are evident, leading to loosely associated dimers or chain motifs, the latter mediated by either Au⋯S, N–H⋯N or C–H⋯O interactions. Cytotoxicity data, against the P388 leukemia cell line, and anti-microbial data are also reported.

Graphical abstractA series of phosphine gold(I) complexes containing monoanionic thiourea ligands has been synthesised in high yields and purities by reaction of the appropriate precursor chloro complex, Ph3PAuCl, Cy3PAuCl, dppf(AuCl)2 [dppf = Fe(η5-C5H4PPh2)2] or dppe(AuCl)2 (dppe = Ph2PCH2CH2PPh2), with the thiourea and Me3N as the base. Biological activity data, together with structural determinations on several complexes, are reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide