Thiol Complexes of Gold(I): Structure and Chemistry of the Gold Based Anti-Arthritis Drugs

Abstract

<p>The chemistry of gold is briefly reviewed, with emphasis on its oxidation states, unique properties and structures of its complexes. The chemistry relevant to the use of gold thiol complexes in medicine is discussed and related to the questions posed in this work.</p> <p>The preparation of 1:1 gold to thiomalate complexes, as both sodium and ammonium salts, is described, as well as the preparation of highly optically pure thiomalic acid and gold complexes thereof. The use of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry for the characterization of gold thiol complexes is described and its structural implications are discussed and compared with results from other studies.</p> <p>The preparation and characterization of 1:2 gold to thiomalate complexes, as ammonium salts, are described. The crystal structures of both racemic and optically pure samples are described and compared. These complexes are the first gold thiomalate complexes for which crystal structures have been determined. The preparation and characterization of an analogous complex of D-penicillamine is described. The crystal structure of this complex is presented and discussed.</p> <p>The gold complex of 2,4,6-tri-(isopropyl) thiophenol was confirmed, by X-ray crystallography, to have a cyclic hexameric structure. A 1:2 complex of gold with the triphenylphosphinesulfide ligand was prepared as a difluorodioxophosphate salt and its structure was determined by X-ray crystallography.</p>