Dinuclear gold(i) complexes with N-phosphanyl, N-heterocyclic carbene ligands: synthetic strategies, luminescence properties and anticancer activity

A small library of dinuclear gold(i) complexes with the title ligands has been prepared, encompassing neutral, mono- and dicationic complexes. The luminescence properties of the complexes in the solid state have been evaluated, and it turns out that neutral and monocationic complexes not presenting a rigid metallamacrocyclic structure can exhibit rather strong emissions that extend towards the red region of the visible spectrum. The in vitro anticancer activity of the complexes has been also preliminarly evaluated; cytotoxicity seems to correlate with complex lipophilicity, whereas selectivity towards cancer cells can be apparently enhanced upon a judicious choice of the ligands.

Automated summary

This study investigated the luminescence properties of dinuclear gold(I) complexes with the title ligands, as well as their preliminary evaluation of in vitro anticancer activity. It was found that neutral and monocationic complexes can exhibit strong emissions in the red region of the visible spectrum without a rigid metallamacrocyclic structure, and their cytotoxicity seems to correlate with lipophilicity while selectivity towards cancer cells can be enhanced by a judicious choice of the ligands.