Tri N-Heterocyclic Carbene Trinuclear Silver(I) Complexes: Synthesis and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Studies

ABSTRACT Synthesis of ethylene linked tris benzimidazolium bromide salts that serve as precursors for the tri-NHC ligands in the respective tri-NHC trinuclear silver(I) complexes is described (NHC = N-heterocyclic carbene). Different wingtip substituents were selected (benzyl, n-butyl, cyclopentyl, 2-methylene benzonitrile, n-decyl) to furnish five new tris benzimidazolium salts (1-5) and the respective tri-NHC trinuclear silver(I) complexes (6-10). The synthesized and characterized compounds (1-10) were evaluated for their cytotoxic potential on human colon, human breast and human epitheloid cervix cancer cell lines by determining their IC50 values and evaluating their antiproliferative activity against the selected cell lines. The tested compounds were found to be good anticancer agents against breast cancer and cervical cancer cell lines and selectively good anticancer agents for the human colon cancer cell line.