A new series of mononuclear [t-Bu3PAuS2CN(C7H7)2] (1), and binuclear [(DPPM)Au2(S2CN(CH3)2)2] (2), [(DPPM)Au2(S2CN(C2H5)2)2] (3) and [(DPPM)Au2(S2CN(C7H7)2)2] (4) [where DPPM = 1,1-bis(diphenylphosphino)methane, S2CN(CH3)2 = dimethyldithiocarbamate, S2CN(C2H5)2 = diethyldithiocarbamate and S2CN(C7H7)2 = dibenzyldithiocarbamate] gold(I) complexes have been prepared by reacting gold(I) precursors and dialkyl–diaryl dithiocarbamate ligands. The complexes were characterized by an analytical technique and spectroscopic methods such as CHNS analysis, FTIR spectroscopy; 1H, 13C and 31P NMR measurements. The molecular structure of the [t-Bu3PAuS2CN(C7H7)2] (1) complex was determined by X-ray diffraction. The gold(I) complexes (2 and 3) were found particularly to be better potent in vitro cytotoxic agents in comparison to cisplatin against HeLa, HCT15 and A549 cancer cell lines. These metal complexes could serve as attractive anticancer agents for the development of novel therapeutic strategies and to treat cervix, lung and colon cancers.
