Dinuclear triphenylphosphinegold(I) sulfanylcarboxylates: Synthesis, structure and cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines.

The reaction of 3-(aryl)-2-sulfanylpropenoic acids (H2xspa), with triphenylphosphinegold(I) chloride in basic media afforded complexes of the type [(AuPPh3)2xspa]. The structures show a dinuclear nature for the complexes, which show significant in vitro antitumor activities, in particular against the A2780cis cell line, indicative of a high ability to circumvent the cellular resistance to cisplatin.