Straightforward synthetic route to gold(i)-thiolato glycoconjugate complexes bearing NHC ligands (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene) and their promising anticancer activity

Abstract

A simple and eco-friendly route to gold–NHC complexes bearing different thiosugars is reported. The reaction between [Au(NHC)Cl] precursors, the thiosugars and a weak base proceeds under air using technical grade acetone under mild conditions (60 °C, 1 h). The one-pot synthesis of the same complexes starting from the corresponding imidazolium salts was also investigated. The obtained complexes showed strong cytotoxic activities against selected cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values in the submicromolar to low micromolar concentration range.