A cytotoxic bis(carbene)gold(I) complex of ferrocenyl complexes: Synthesis and structural characterisation

Abstract

The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors 1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4- ferrocenylphenyl)imidazolium bromide (2) and 1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4- ferrocenylphenyl)imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (3) were derived from 1-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)imidazole. Ferrocenyl complex 3 reacts with Ag 2O and chloro(dimethylsulfide)gold(i) in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride to produce the mixed metal species bis{1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)-2H-imidazol-2-ylidene}gold(i) tetrafluoroborate (4). Single crystal X-ray structure analyses of 1, 3 and 4 indicate that the NCHN-hydrogen in 3 is hydrogen bonded to the BF 4- anion [C(H1)⋯F, 3.265(4) Å], as is also reflected in the position of its 1H NMR chemical shift. Cytotoxicity studies show that complex 4 is selective for cancer cells and active against the tumour cell lines Jurkat and MCF 7. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.The N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors 1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4- ferrocenylphenyl)imidazolium bromide (2) and 1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4- ferrocenylphenyl)imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (3) were derived from 1-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)imidazole. Ferrocenyl complex 3 reacts with Ag 2O and chloro(dimethylsulfide)gold(i) in the presence of tetraethylammonium chloride to produce the mixed metal species bis{1-[(E)-2-butenyl]-3-(4-ferrocenylphenyl)-2H-imidazol-2-ylidene}gold(i) tetrafluoroborate (4). Single crystal X-ray structure analyses of 1, 3 and 4 indicate that the NCHN-hydrogen in 3 is hydrogen bonded to the BF 4- anion [C(H1)⋯F, 3.265(4) Å], as is also reflected in the position of its 1H NMR chemical shift. Cytotoxicity studies show that complex 4 is selective for cancer cells and active against the tumour cell lines Jurkat and MCF 7. © The Royal Society of Chemistry and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.ArticleArticl