Synthesis and antitumor activity of new silver(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes

In this study, two novel benzimidazole-based N-heterocyclic carbene ligands (1a-b) and their silver(I) complexes (2a-b) were synthesized. All new compounds were characterized by FT-IR, LC-MS, H-1 NMR, and C-13 NMR spectroscopies. The in vitro antitumor activities of NHC ligands (1a-b) and their silver(I) complexes (2a-b) against DU-145 human prostate cancer cells, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and L-929 (normal cells adipose from mouse) were also determined using MTT analysis for 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. The results showed that while NHC ligands did not have in vitro antitumor activity on MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and DU-145 cells, Ag(I)-NHC complexes have in vitro antitumor activities. The in vitro antitumor activity of 2a was found to be lower than that of 2b. Ag(I)-NHC complexes were observed to have higher IC50 values for non-cancerous cell lines than cancer cells.