Molecular docking and anticancer studies of silver(I)--heterocyclic carbene complexes.

A series of symmetric and unsymmetrical benzimidazolium-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors () and their silver complexes () have been synthesized. The Ag(I)-NHC complexes were characterized by H, C{H} NMR, FTIR, LC/MS-QTOF, and elemental analysis. Anticancer and cytotoxic activity of all Ag(I)-NHC complexes were tested against healthy fibroblast cell line (L929), breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), and neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) by MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium] assay.

Synthesis and investigation of antiproliferative activity of Ru-NHC complexes against C6 and HeLa cancer cells.

The 2-methylpyridine, 2-diethylaminoethyl, and isopentyl linked a series of symmetric and unsymmetric benzimidazolium salts 2a-e were prepared and used in the synthesis of silver-N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes (3a-e). The Ru(II)-NHC complexes (4a-h) were synthesized via transmetalation reaction from 3a-e. 4a-h complexes were converted to Ru(II)-NHC.