Gold(I) Complexes Derived from Alkynyloxy-Substituted Anthraquinones: Syntheses, Luminescence, Preliminary Cytotoxicity, and Cell Imaging Studies

A series of mono- and dimetallic Au­(I) triphenylphosphine
complexes
derived from 1,2-, 1,4-, and 1,8-dialkynyloxyanthraquinone have been
prepared. The photophysical and cytotoxic behavior of the ligands
and complexes have been explored, with all of the complexes showing
both appreciable cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 carcinoma cell line
and useful room-temperature anthraquinone-based visible luminescence,
which allowed their successful application as fluorophores in cell
imaging microscopy. The implications of the photophysical and toxicological
properties for the design and investigation of gold-based anticancer
agents are discussed.