<i>In Vitro</i> Antitumour Activity of Some Triorganophosphinegold(I)Thionucleobases

Abstract

A series of phosphinegold(I) thionucleobase analogues, [R(3)PAu(SR(x))] (R = Et, Ph or chexyl; HSR(1) = 2-mercaptobenzoic acid, HSR(2) = 2-thiouracil, HSR(3) = 6-mercaptopurine and HSR(4) = 6-thioguanine) have been examined for their in vitro cytotoxicity in L1210 murine leukemia cells in culture. The range of ID(50) values (continuous 48 h exposure) for the complexes is 0.041 - 0.131 muM. The complexes with SR(3) and SR(3) are generally the most active; however, there is no clear trend associated with the phosphine ligands.