Synthesis, characterization, biological properties, and molecular docking studies of new phosphoramide-based Ag() complexes

Two new Ag( i ) complexes of N -( n -pyridinyl)diphenylphosphinic amide ( n = 2 and 3) ( L o and L m ) with formulae Ag( L o )NO 3 ( C o ) and Ag( L m )NO 3 ·H 2 O ( C m ) were synthesized. Infrared, NMR, and elemental analyses were applied to fully characterize them. The crystal structure of C m was also assessed using single-crystal X-ray diffraction and the monoclinic nature of the silver complex was illustrated. The organization of four coordinated dinuclear Ag( i ) complexes and intermolecular interactions were also studied. The supramolecule was formed by the cooperation of various intermolecular interactions, hydrogen bonds, M π, π π contacts, and CH π synthons. Antibacterial studies of Ag( i ) complexes and the corresponding ligands against Gram-negative ( Escherichia coli ) and Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus ) were carried out by MIC, MBC, and DDA methods and C m showed more bactericidal activity than C o against both bacteria ( E. coli ; MIC = 9.7 μg mL −1 and S. aureus ; MIC = 78 μg mL −1 ). The potential antitumor activity of C o and C m was also evaluated for human colon cancer cell lines (SW480) through anticancer (MTT and apoptosis) experiments, and it was revealed that C m has the most toxicity (IC 50 = 39.6 μg mL −1 ) by an MTT assay. An initial evaluation of the mechanism of cell death induced by C o and C m was performed. Cell death was mainly from the activation of apoptosis processes. The results were further examined by docking studies to confirm that C m has the potency to be a good candidate for biological applications. The effect of two new synthesized Ag( i ) complexes on their biological properties was examined.