Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Cytotoxicity of Gold(I) Complexes of 2-(Diphenylphosphanyl)ethylamine and Dithiocarbamates

Abstract

Gold(I) complexes of 2-(diphenylphosphanyl)ethylamine or (2-aminoethyl)diphenylphosphine (AEP), and dithiocaarbamates (R2NCS2) were prepared by the reaction of these ligands with (CH3)2S-AuCl in dichloromethane. The synthesized complexes [Au(AEP)Cl] (1), [Au(AEP)2]Cl (2), and [Au2(R2NCS2)2]n(R2= dimethyl (3), diethyl (4), and dibenzyl (5)) were characterized by elemental analysis, IR,1H,13C and31P NMR spectroscopy. The complexes were evaluated for anticancer activity against three cancer cells, A549 (human lung carcinoma), HCT15 (human colon cancer), and MCF7 (human breast cancer) cell lines. Three of the five tested complexes showed significant in vitro cytotoxicity and for A549, the inhibition effect of three compounds is greater than cisplatin.