Synthesis, structure and cytotoxicity studies of four-coordinate bis (cis-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethene) gold(I) complexes, [Au(dppey)2]X

Lipophilic [Au(dppey)2]X complexes have been prepared for X = PF6−, CF3SO3−, BF4−, Cl−, Br− and BPh4− with single crystal X-ray structures completed for the BF4−, Cl−, Br− and BPh4− complexes. Each ionic derivative has been screened for cytotoxic activity towards a range of cancerous cell lines and a normal human cell line.