Several new organogold(III) derivatives of the type [AuX(2)(damp)] (damp = o-C(6)H(4)CH(2)NMe(2)) have been prepared [X = CN, SCN, dtc, or X(2) = tm; dtc = R(2)NCS(2) (R = Me (dmtc) or Et (detc)); tm = SCH(CO(2))CH(2)CO(2)Na] together with [AuCl(tpca)(damp)]Cl (tpca = o-Ph(2)PC(6)H(4)CO(2)H), [Au(dtc)(damp)]Y (Y = Cl, BPh(4)) and K[Au(CN)(3)(damp)]. The (13)C NMR spectra of these and previous derivatives have been fully assigned. In [Au(dtc)(2)(damp)] and K[Au(CN)(3)(damp)], the damp ligand is coordinated only through carbon, as shown by X-ray crystallography and/or NMR. [Au(detc)(2)(damp)] has space group C2/c, with a = 29.884(4) Å, b = 13.446(2) Å, c = 12.401(2) Å, beta = 99.45(3)(o), V = 4915 Å(3), Z = 8, and R = 0.057 for 1918 reflections. The damp and one detc ligand are monodentate, the other detc is bidentate; in solution, the complex shows dynamic behavior, with the detc ligands appearing equivalent. The crystal structure of [Au(dmtc)(damp)]BPh(4) [Pna2(1), a = 26.149(5) Å, b = 11.250(2) Å, c = 11.921(2) Å, V = 3507 Å(3), Z = 4, R = 0.073, 1772 reflections] shows both ligands to be bidentate in the cation, but the two Au-S distances are nonequivalent. The crystal structure of [Au(tm)(damp)] has also been determined [P2(1)/n, a = 18.267(7) Å, b = 9.618(3) Å, c = 18.938(4) Å, beta = 113.45(3)(o), V = 3053 Å(3), Z = 8, R = 0.079, 1389 reflections]. The tm is bound through sulfur and the carboxyl group which allows five-membered ring formation. In all three structures, the trans-influence of the sigma-bonded aryl group is apparent. [AuCl(2)(damp)] has been tested in vitroagainst a range of microbial strains and several human tumor lines, where it displays differential cytotoxicity similar to that of cisplatin. Against the ZR-75-1 human tumor xenograft, both [AuCl(2)(damp)] and cisplatin showed limited activity.

Four analogues of the gold(III) complex [AuCl2(damp)] (1) (damp = 2-[(dimethylamino)methyl]phenyl) have been evaluated for antitumor activity. The compounds have structural features in common with cisplatin which was included as a comparison in the study. In vitro, against a panel of cell lines established from tumors of different tissue types, the gold complexes showed broadly similar growth inhibitory properties with some selectivity to the HT1376 bladder cell line. In a panel of human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, non-cross-resistance to cisplatin was observed, for the complexes, in an acquired cisplatin-resistant line. In vivo, using subcutaneously implanted xenografts derived from the HT1376 bladder and CH1 ovarian cell lines, [Au(acetato)2(damp)] (3) and [Au(malonato)(damp)] (5) (administered intraperitoneally) gave significant tumor inhibition. Mechanistic studies performed with compound 3 showed marked differences to cisplatin. Thus, much higher concentrations of the gold compound were required to affect Col E1 plasmid mobility, and an alkaline elution study showed that 3 did not cause interstrand DNA cross-links in SK-OV-3 cells. Exposure of SK-OV-3 cells to 3 induced only relatively minor changes in cell cycle distribution. Furthermore 3 was only marginally active in vivo against the cisplatin-sensitive murine ADJ/PC6 plasmacytoma. In summary, the gold-(III) complexes 3 and 5 exhibited selective cytotoxicity in vitro and showed in vivo antitumor activity against human carcinoma xenografts. Also, although 3 has some structural similarity to cisplatin, its mode of action appears to be different.

Metal compounds have been used as antibacterial agents for centuries. The in-vitro activity of two metal containing complexes, one gold, the other osmium, was investigated using a panel of clinically isolated bacteria and Candida albicans. Twenty strains of each organism were used and MIC and MBC values determined using the agar plate dilution method. Protein binding effects on the activity of the compounds were also investigated using media supplemented with 5% human blood. In-vivo activity of the two compounds was subsequently determined in a hairless-obese mouse skin-surface activity model. Both compounds were highly active against the Gram-positive organisms and Candida albicans in vitro. The gold compound had some Gram-negative activity but the osmium complex was inactive against these organisms. Both were extensively protein bound. In the in-vivo experiment the gold compound achieved a 2-3 log reduction for all the test organisms and was at least as good as or superior to mupirocin in its eradication rate. The osmium compound was inactive.

The gold(rr1) complex [Au(O,CMe),(dmamp)] [dmamp = 2-(dimethylaminomethyl)phenyl] is hydrolysed in wholly or partially aqueous solution. One acetate ligand, presumed to be that trans to the Au-C bond, exchanged with a water molecule rapidly on the NMR time-scale. At high concentrations of water a further hydrolysis step was also discernible, which involved the second acetate group while, in aged solutions, small amounts of a third species, possibly the second isomer of [Au(O,CMe)(dmamp)(H,O)] +, was formed. The reaction of aqueous or dimethyl sulfoxide solutions of the gold(m) complex with various biological ligands was followed by NMR spectroscopy and a range of reactivities was found: caffeine and adenosine showed no reaction, L-cysteine, glutathione and adenine reacted quantitatively and guanosine and inosine showed partial reaction. In in vilro biological tests for antibacterial activity, [Au(O,CMe),(dmamp)] exhibited a potentially useful selectivity .We have reported on the antibacterial and antitumour activity of [AuCl,(dmamp)] 1 [dmamp = 2-(dimethylaminomethy1)phenyl] which showed some activity analogous to that of cisplatin.' The antibacterial selectivity was not high, and the application of this gold complex is inhibited by its negligible solubility in water. We have therefore sought a water-soluble derivative and the diacetato analogue 2 has proved very suitable. Initial studies suggested that it underwent ready hydrolysis, and we have now made a detailed study of this process in water and in mixed solvents. Since the complex shows interesting biological behaviour, some of which is summarised here, we have also examined its reactions with model biological molecules.