A series of new heterometallic gold(I) thiolates containing ferrocenyl-phoshines were synthesized. Their antimicrobial properties were studied and compared to that of FDA-approved drug, auranofin (Ridaura), prescribed for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. MIC in the order of one digit micromolar were found for most of the compounds against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and CA MRSA strains US300 and US400. Remarkably, auranofin inhibited S. aureus, US300 and US400 in the order of 150–300 nM. This is the first time that the potent inhibitory effect of auranofin on MRSA strains has been described. The effects of a selected heterometallic compound and auranofin were also studied in a non-tumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293).
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