Synthesis of N-heterocyclic carbene gold(i) complexes from the marine betaine 1,3-dimethylimidazolium-4-carboxylate

Abstract

The marine natural product norzooanemonin (1,3-dimethylimidazolium-4-carboxylate) has been used to prepare a series of carboxyl- or carboxylate-functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) gold(I) complexes from [(Me₂S)AuCl] in the presence of potassium carbonate. The potential of the resulting mono- and dicarbene complexes to act as cytotoxic or antibacterial drugs was investigated.