Alteration of Anticancer and Protein-Binding Properties of Gold(I) Alkynyl by Phenolic Schiff Bases Moieties.

A set of five gold complexes with the general formula Au(PR)(C≡C-CH-4-R') (R = PPh, R' = -CHO (1), R = PCy, R' = -CHO (2), R = PPh, R' = -N=CH-CH-2-OH (3), R = PPh, R' = -N=CH-CH-4-OH (4), R = PCy, R' = -N=CH-CH-2-OH (5)) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, H-NMR spectroscopy, P-NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The structures of complexes 2 and 5 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The effects of the structural modifications on the protein binding affinities and anticancer activities of the five gold complexes were assessed.