Syntheses, Crystal Structures and Cytotoxities of Silver (I) Complexes of 2,2′‐Bipyridines and 1,10‐Phenanthroline

The syntheses, characterizations and in vitro cytotoxities of seven soluble silver (I) compounds (1–7) with 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), 5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine (dmbpy) and 1, 10-phenanthroline (phen) are described. Two of the complexes, [Ag(dmbpy)(NO3)] (1) and [Ag(dmbpy)]ClO4(2), have been structurally established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, which reveals the silver(I) atom in compound 1 is in a Y-shape coordination geometry with two N atoms (av. AgN = 227.8 pm) from a chelate dmbpy ligand and an O atom (AgO=221.8(4) pm) from a monodentate nitrate. The Ag(I) atom in compound 2 is three-coordinated by three N atoms, two of which are from a chelate dmbpy, and one from an acetonitrile ligand. The seven compounds showed strong cytotoxities in vitro to both normal and carcinoma cells.