Cytotoxicity Profiles for a Series of Triorganophosphinegold(I) Dithiocarbamates and Triorganophosphinegold(I) Xanthates

A series of triorganophosphinegold(I) dithiocarbamate (R_3PAuS_2CNR'2) and xanthate (R_3PAuS_2COR') complexes have been prepared and characterised spectroscopically. Based on crystallographic evidence, the molecules feature linear gold(I) geometries defined by sulphur and phosphorus donors. The complexes, along with a series of known anti-cancer agents, have been screened against a panel of seven human cancer cell lines. Uniformly, the dithiocarbamate derivatives are more active than their xanthate counterparts, with the most active complex being Et_3PAu(S_2CNEt_2), and are more active than cisplatin in all cell lines screened but, not as potent as taxol.