Anticancer Gold(III) Compounds With Porphyrin or N-heterocyclic Carbene Ligands

Abstract

The use of gold in medicine has a long history. Recent clinical applications include anti-inflammatory agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (chrysotherapy), and is currently being developed as potential anticancer chemotherapeutics. Gold(III), being isoelectronic to platinum(II) as in cisplatin, is of great interest but it is inherently unstable and redox-reactive under physiological conditions. Coordination ligands containing C and/or N donor atom(s) such as porphyrin, pincer-type cyclometalated and/or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) can be employed to stabilize gold(III) ion for the preparation of anticancer active compounds. In this review, we described our recent work on the anticancer properties of gold(III) compounds and the identification of molecular targets involved in the mechanisms of action. We also summarized the chemical formulation strategies that have been adopted for the delivery of cytotoxic gold compounds, and for ameliorating the in vivo toxicity.

Recent development of gold(i) and gold(iii) complexes as therapeutic agents for cancer diseases

“…The porphyrin ligand can stabilize the electrophilic gold( iii ) ion against demetalation under physiological conditions. 176,177 Apart from tetradentate porphyrins, the electrophilic gold( iii ) ion can also be stabilized by pincer-type ligands containing deprotonated C-donor atom. 178,179 Zhang et al reported a panel of cyclometalated gold( iii ) complexes bearing a C-deprotonated bidentate ligand with promising in vitro cytotoxicity toward different cancer cell lines, which was associated with the induction of ER stress.…”

Organometallic chemistry in aqua regia: metal and ligand based oxidations of (NHC)AuCl complexes

“…NHC complexes have proven to be suitable catalysts for dihydroalkoxylation and hydroamination reactions 204 and to be active anti-cancer agents. 205,206 Gold(III) NHC complexes are synthesized by oxidation of the relevant gold(I) NHC complex, using as an oxidizing agent PhICl2, 207,208 halogens (Cl2, Br2, I2), [208][209][210] CsBr3 211 and N-halosuccinimides (Scheme 1.6). 212 Alternatively disproportionation of gold(I) NHC complexes using a sacrificial gold(I) compound leads to the formation of gold(III) NHC complexes.…”

A C∧S-Cyclometallated Gold(III) Complex as a Novel Antibacterial Candidate Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria

“…Gold(III) complexes have been intensively investigated as potential antitumor agents due to their similarities with platinum(II) complexes ( Rana et al, 2018 ; Radisavljević and Petrović, 2020 ; Tong et al, 2020 ). Only recently, the growing threat of MDR pathogens has drawn attention to the application of these compounds also as antimicrobials ( Glišić and Djuran, 2014 ; Dominelli et al, 2018 ).…”