New Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with N,S-chelated pyrazolonate ligands: molecular and supramolecular structure and preliminary study of their in vitro antitumoral activity

New Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes [ML2] (HL=a substituted 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazolone-1-carbothioamide) have been synthesized by reacting K2MCl4 (M=Pd, Pt) or Pd(OAc)2 with beta-ketoester thiosemicarbazones. The structures of seven of these complexes were determined by X-ray diffraction. Although all exhibit a distorted square-planar coordination with trans- or (in one case) cis-[MN2S2] kernels, their supramolecular arrangements vary widely from isolated molecules to 3D-networks. The in vitro antitumoral assays performed with two HL ligands and their metal complexes showed significant cytostatic activity for the latter, with the most active [ML2] derivative (a palladium complex) being about sixteen times more active than cis-DDP against the cisplatinum-resistant cell line A2780cisR.     

Mono- and polynuclear complexes of Pt(II) with polypyridyl ligands. Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization and cytotoxic activity

An array of poly- and mononuclear complexes of Pt(II) with polypyridyl ligands is reported. The framework complexes [(PtCl(2))(2)(bpp)(2)(micro-PtCl(2))](H(2)O)(2) [bpp=2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], [PtCl(2)(micro-tptz)PtClNCPh]Cl [tptz=2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine], and mononuclear PtCl(2)(NH(2)dpt) [NH(2)dpt=4-amino-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole] have been prepared and structurally characterized. Both neutral and ionic complexes are present, with bifunctional and monofunctional Pt(II) moieties, whose size and shape enable them to behave as novel scaffolds for DNA binding. Pt(II) complexes were tested for their biological activity. Cell viability assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that these complexes, particularly [PtCl(2)(micro-tptz)PtClNCPh]Cl, were effective death inducers in human colon rectal carcinoma HT29 cells and their cytotoxic activity was higher than that exerted by cisplatin. Morphological analysis of treated HT29 cells, performed by fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst 33258 staining, showed the appearance of the typical features of apoptosis. Moreover, our results suggested that mitochondria are involved in apoptosis induced by Pt(II) complexes in HT29 cells as demonstrated by dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential.     

Platinum(II) complexes with l-methionylglycine and l-methionyl-l-leucine ligands: synthesis, characterization and in vitro antitumoral activity

Four dipeptide complexes of the type [PtX(2)(dipeptide)] x H(2)O (X=Cl, I, dipeptide=l-methionylglycine, l-methionyl-l-leucine) were prepared. The complexes were characterized by (1)H, (13)C, (195)Pt NMR and infrared spectroscopy, DTG and elemental analysis. From the infrared, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy it was concluded that dipeptides coordinate bidentately via sulfur and amine nitrogen donor atoms. Confirmed with (13)C and (195)Pt NMR spectroscopy, each of the complexes exists in two diastereoisomeric forms, which are related by inversion of configuration at the sulfur atom. The (1)H NMR spectrum for the platinum(II) complex with l-methionylglycine and chloro ligands exhibited reversible, intramolecular inversion of configuration at the S atom; DeltaG( not equal)=72 kJ mol(-1) at coalescence temperature 349 K was calculated. In vitro cytotoxicity studies using the human tumor cell lines liposarcoma, lung carcinoma A549 and melanoma 518A2 revealed considerable activity of the platinum(II) complex with l-methionylglycine and chloro ligands. Further in vitro cytotoxic evaluation using human testicular germ cell tumor cell lines 1411HP and H12.1 and colon carcinoma cell line DLD-1 showed moderate cytotoxic activity for all platinum(II) complexes only in the cisplatin-sensitive cell line H12.1. Platinum uptake studies using atomic absorption spectroscopy indicated no relationship between uptake and activity. Potential antitumoral activity of this class of platinum(II) complexes is dependent on the kind of ligands as well as on tumor cell type.     

Synthesis, multinuclear magnetic resonance and crystal structures of Pt(II) complexes containing amines and bidentate carboxylate ligands

A novel synthetic method for the synthesis of the complexes cis-Pt(amine)₂R(COO)₂ is compared to two other methods involving the use of either barium dicarboxylate or sodium carboxylate. Pt(II) compounds with monodentate and bidentate amines were studied. The reaction involves the use of a silver dicarboxylato complex, which is the intermediate in the new synthetic procedure. The crystal structure of the silver intermediate with the ligand 1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylate (1,1-CBDCA) was determined by X-ray diffraction. The crystal Ag₂(1,1-CBDCA) has a very interesting 3-D extended structure. The complexes cis-Pt(amine)₂R(COO)₂ were studied in solution by multinuclear (¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹⁵Pt) magnetic resonance spectroscopy, but the solubilities are very low. D₂O was found to be the best solvent. In ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR, the complexes containing bidentate amines forming five-membered chelates were observed at higher fields than those containing monodentate amines. The resonances of the NH₃ compounds were also found at lower fields than the primary amine complexes. All the dicarboxylato ligands form six-membered chelates except 1,2-CBDCA, whose Pt(II) compounds were observed at lower fields than the others. The crystal structures of Pt(en)(1,1-CBDCA), Pt(Meen)(1,1-CBDCA) and Pt(en)(benzylmalonato) were confirmed by X-ray diffraction methods. Several compounds are disordered. The crystals are stabilized by intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the -NH₂ groups and the carboxylato O atoms.     

Crystal structures of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes with the free radical 4-aminoTEMPO

Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds containing the free radical 4-aminoTEMPO (4amTEMPO) were synthesized and characterised by X-ray diffraction methods. The disubstituted complexes cis- and trans-Pt(4amTEMPO)₂I₂ were studied. The trans isomer was prepared from the isomerisation of the cis analogue. The two Pd(II) compounds trans-Pd(4amTEMPO)₂X₂ (X = Cl and I) were also characterised by crystallographic methods. A mixed-ligand complex cis-Pt(DMSO)(4amTEMPO)Cl₂ was synthesized from the isomerisation of the trans isomer in hot water. Its crystal structure was also determined. In all the complexes, the 4amTEMPO ligand is bonded to the metal through the -NH₂ group, since the nitroxide O atom is not a good donor atom for the soft Pt(II) and Pd(II) metals. The conformation of the 4-aminoTEMPO ligand was compared to those of the few reported structures in the literature.     

Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activities of novel silver(I) complexes with coumarin substituted N-heterocyclic carbene ligands

Eight new coumarin substituted silver(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes were synthesized by the interaction of the corresponding imidazolium or benzimidazolium chlorides and Ag₂O in dichloromethane at room temperature. Structures of these complexes were established on the basis of elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and mass spectroscopic techniques. The antimicrobial activities of carbene precursors and silver NHC complexes were tested against standard strains: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungi Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. Results showed that all the compounds inhibited the growth of the all bacteria and fungi strains and some complexes performed good activities against different microorganisms. Among all the compounds, the most lipophilic complex bis[1-(4-methylene-6,8-dimethyl-2H-chromen-2-one)-3-(naphthalene-2-ylmethyl)benzimidazol-2-ylidene]silver(I) dichloro argentate (5e) was found out as the most active one.     

Synthesis, structural characterisation and biological studies of new mononuclear platinum(II) complexes with sterically hindered heterocyclic ligands

Three novel cisplatin analogues were synthesized, designed according to an approach which violates the “classical” structure-activity relationship, by replacing the diamine ligands with a planar N donor heterocycle giving a sterically hindered complex. Moreover, the sterical hindrance of antitumor drug candidates potentially makes them less susceptible to deactivation by sulphur-containing proteins and helping to overcome resistance mechanisms. The resulting mononuclear complexes of sterically hindered polidentate heterocyclic N ligands [PtCl(bbp)]Cl (1) [bbp = 2,6-bis(2-benzimidazolyl)pyridine], [PtCl₂(dptdn)](H₂O) (2) [dptdn = sodium 5,6-diphenyl-3-(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine-4″,4″′-disulfonate] and [(dptdn)(dpt)Pt]Cl₂(H₂O) (3) [dpt = 5,6-diphenyl-3-(2′-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazine] have been prepared and structurally characterised. Both neutral and ionic complexes are present, with monofunctional (1) and bifunctional Pt(II) moieties (2) and coordinatively saturated Pt(II) ions in the mixed ligand complex (3), whose size and shape enable them to behave as novel scaffolds for DNA binding. All complexes were tested “in vitro” for their biological activity on human HT29 colorectal carcinoma and HepG2 hepatoma cells. The complexes (1) and (3), endowed with a positive charge, showed a potent cytotoxic activity and reduced cell viability with an efficacy higher than that of cisplatin; whilst the neutral bifunctional compound (2) was inactive. IC50 values have been calculated for the active compounds. The cytotoxic effects were confirmed by the accumulation of treated cells in subG0/G1 phase of cell cycle, by the loss of mitochondrial potential (Δψ_m) and by the chromatin condensation or fragmentation observed by means of fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining. A study on intracellular platinum uptake in HT29 cell line has been also performed and data obtained strongly suggest that the cytotoxicity of new tested complexes reported in this work is based on a different pharmacodynamic pattern with respect to cisplatin.     

Synthesis of 17beta-estradiol-linked platinum(II) complexes and their cytocidal activity on estrogen-dependent and -independent breast tumor cells

The synthesis of two new highly potent 17beta-estradiol-linked platinum(II) complexes is described. The new molecules are linked at position 16 of the steroid nucleus with an alkyl chain. They are made from estrone in nine chemical steps with an overall yield exceeding 10%. The biological activity of these compounds was evaluated in vitro on estrogen dependent and independent (ER(+) and ER(-)) human breast tumor cell lines: MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231. The novel compounds prove to be highly cytotoxic against breast cancer cell lines. The most cytotoxic derivative shows high affinity for the estrogen receptor alpha.     

Interaction of Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes of terpyridine with 1-methylazoles: A combined experimental and density functional study

The synthesis and characterization of several complexes of the composition [{M(terpy)}_n(L)](ClO₄)_m (M = Pt, Pd; L = 1-methylimidazole, 1-methyltetrazole, 1-methyltetrazolate; terpy = 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; n = 1, 2; m = 1, 2, 3) is reported and their applicability in terms of a metal-mediated base pair investigated. Reaction of [M(terpy)(H₂O)]²⁺ with 1-methylimidazole leads to [M(terpy)(1-methylimidazole)](ClO₄)₂ (1: M = Pt; 2: M = Pd). The analogous reaction of [Pt(terpy)(H₂O)]²⁺ with 1-methyltetrazole leads to the organometallic compound [Pt(terpy)(1-methyltetrazolate)]ClO₄ (3) in which the aromatic tetrazole proton has been substituted by the platinum moiety. For both platinum(II) and palladium(II), doubly metalated complexes [{M(terpy)}₂(1-methyltetrazolate)](ClO₄)₃ (4: M = Pt; 5: M = Pd) can also be obtained depending on the reaction conditions. In the latter two compounds, the [M(terpy)]²⁺ moieties are coordinated via C5 and N4. X-ray crystal structures of 1, 2, and 3 are reported. In addition, DFT calculations have been carried out to determine the energy difference between fully planar [Pd(mterpy)(L)]²⁺ complexes Ip-IVp (mterpy = 4′-methyl-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine; L = 1-methylimidazole-N3 (I), 1-methyl-1,2,4-triazole-N4 (II), 1-methyltetrazole-N3 (III), or 3-methylpyridine-N1 (IV)) and the respective geometry-optimized structures Io-IVo. Whereas this energy difference is larger than 70 kJ mol⁻¹ for compounds I, II, and IV, it amounts to only 0.8 kJ mol⁻¹ for the tetrazole-containing complex III, which is stabilized by two intramolecular C-H?N hydrogen bonds. Of all complexes under investigation, only the terpyridine-metal ion-tetrazole system with N3-coordinated tetrazole appears to be suited for an application in terms of a metal-mediated base pair in a metal-modified oligonucleotide.     

Binuclear monofunctional platinum(II) complexes formed by hexaazamacrocyclic bisdien ligands: Crystal structure, DNA binding and cytotoxicity studies

Two binuclear 3N-chelated monofunctional Pt^II complexes, [Pt₂L1Cl₂]Cl₂ (complex III) and [Pt₂L2Cl₂]Cl₂ (complex IV) [L1 = 3,6,9,16,19,22-hexaazatricyclo[22.2.2.2^11,14]-triaconta-11,13,24,26(1),27,29-hexaene, L2 = 3,6,9,17,20,23-hexaazatricyclo[23.3.1.1^11,15]-triaconta-1(29),11(30),12,14,25,27-hexaene] have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Structural determination revealed that each Pt^II center was coordinated by one chloride anion and three N atoms from each diethylenediamine motif. The Pt-Cl bonds in complex III are shorter than those found in complex IV. The rigid para- and meta-xylylene groups make the two complexes adopt a rigid boat-like conformation and a flexible twisted chair-like conformation, respectively. Moreover, complex III has higher tendency to bind with each other than complex IV. DNA binding studies demonstrated that complex IV could bind effectively with calf thymus DNA, possibly via platination of N7 of guanine residue, while no obvious DNA binding was observed for complex III. However, complex III displays a comparable cytotoxicity to cisplatin against HeLa cell line, while compound IV does not show any effective cell inhibition at low concentration. Therefore, the rigid spacers in complexes III and IV play a determining role in their anti-cancer activity and DNA binding ability.     

Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes with aromatic diamines: study of their interaction with DNA

Pd(II) and Pt(II) new complexes with simple aromatic diamines were synthesised and characterised with the aim of studying their possible antitumour activity. The aromatic diamines chosen were 2,3-diaminotoluene (2,3 dat), 3,4-diaminotoluene (3,4 dat), 4,5-diaminoxylene (4,5 dax) and 2,3-diaminophenol (2,3 dap). The complexes, of formulae cis-[MCl(2)(diamine)], were characterised by elemental analysis, conductivity measurements, 1H, 13C(1H) and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure was also resolved for the palladium complexes with 2,3-diaminotoluene and 4,5-diaminoxylene. The DNA adduct formation of the eight new complexes synthesised was followed by circular dichroism and electrophoretic mobility. Atomic force microscopy images of the modifications caused by the complexes on plasmid DNA pBR322 were also obtained. Values of IC50 were also calculated for the four platinum complexes against the cisplatin resistant tumour cell line A2780cisR.     

Synthesis and the structure of mixed carboxylatoplatinum(IV) complexes involving one trifluoroacetate ligand

Mono(trifluoroacetato)platinum(IV) complexes of the formula [Pt^IV(dach)L₃(TFAc)] (dach = trans-(±)-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, TFAc = trifluoroacetate, L = acetate or propionate) could be prepared from the reaction of [Pt^IV(dach)L₃(OH)] with trifluoroacetic anhydride in the presence of a base and the crystal structure of compound 4 was determined by X-ray crystallography. In vitro antitumor activity of complex 4 (ED₅₀ = 3.1 μM) was found to be much higher than carboplatin (ED₅₀ = 10.2 μM).     

Antitumor activity of phenylene bridged binuclear bis(imino-quinolyl)palladium(II) and platinum(II) complexes

Antitumor effects of a known bis(imino-quinolyl)palladium(II) complex 1 and its newly synthesized platinum(II) analogue 2 were evaluated against human breast (MCF-7) and human colon (HT-29) cancer cell lines. The complexes gave cytotoxicity profiles that were better than the reference drug cisplatin. The highest cytotoxic activities were pronounced in complex 2 across the two examined cancer cell lines. Both compounds represent potential active drugs based on bimetallic complexes.     

A trigonal-prismatic Ag(I) complex and an octahedral Cu(II) complex incorporating with oxamide Ni(II) complex ligand: Syntheses, crystal structures and oxidative nuclease activities

A mononuclear macrocyclic complex Ni^IIL^3a (L^3a = dianion of 2,3-dioxo-5,6:13,14-dibenzo-9,10-cyclohexyl-7,12-bis(methoxycarbonyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradeca-7,11-diene), which shows high DNA cleavage activity in the presence of H₂O₂, was reported in our previous work. Considering that many systems for natural enzyme-mediated DNA cleavage contain two or more metal active sites, two new trinuclear complexes [Cu(NiL^3a)₂(dca)₂]·2CH₃OH (abbreviated as Cu(NiL^3a)₂) and [Ag(NiL^3a)₂(NO₃)]·2CH₃OH·0.5H₂O (abbreviated as Ag(NiL^3a)₂) were synthesized in this work, where dca is the dicyanamide. The complexes were structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray analysis. The central Cu(II) or Ag(I) atom is linked to two [NiL^3a] ligands by oxamido bridges forming a trinuclear structure. In Cu(NiL^3a)₂, the central Cu(II) ion is in an octahedral coordination geometry. Whereas in Ag(NiL^3a)₂, the central Ag(I) ion is in a rarely reported trigonal-prismatic coordination geometry. The DNA cleavage behavior of the complexes in the presence of H₂O₂ was studied in detail. Comparing with the NiL^3a, the trinuclear complex Ag(NiL^3a)₂ nearly has no ability to cleave DNA, whereas Cu(NiL^3a)₂ is a much better DNA cleavage agent. Cu(NiL^3a)₂ can efficiently convert supercoiled DNA to nicked DNA with a rate constant of 0.074 ± 0.002 min⁻¹ when 40 μM Cu(NiL^3a)₂ and 0.6 mM H₂O₂ are used. The cleavage mechanism between the complex Cu(NiL^3a)₂ and plasmid DNA is likely to involve singlet oxygen as reactive oxygen species. Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopy indicate that both Cu(NiL^3a)₂ and NiL^3a bind to DNA by a groove binding mode, and the binding between Cu(NiL^3a)₂ and DNA is much stronger than that between NiL^3a and DNA. The present results may provide some information for the design of efficient multinuclear artificial nucleases.     

Gold(I) and silver(I) complexes of 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid: Structural studies and antitumour activity

The 2:1 and 1:2 adducts of Au(I) and 1:2 adducts of Ag(I) with the diphosphine 2,3-bis(diphenylphosphino)maleic acid (dpmaa) have been prepared in high yields. Crystal structures have been determined for the neutral digold complex (AuCl)₂(dpmaa) · 2thf (1) and the bis-chelated complex [Au(dpmaa)₂]Cl · H₂O · CH₃OH (2). For 1, conformational rigidity imposed by the ethylenic bridge facilitates the formation of short intramolecular Au-Au contacts with no evidence of similar intermolecular contacts. Complex 2 crystallizes with [Au(dpmaa)₂]⁺ cations hydrogen bonded through the carboxyl groups to a water molecule and chloride anion to form a H-bonded chain along the a axis. ³¹P NMR titration of 1 with dpmaa in acetone shows conversion to 2 at Au:P-P ratios less than 1:1 indicating similar high thermodynamic and kinetic stabilities to other bis-chelated [Au(P-P)₂]⁺ complexes containing 5- or 6-membered chelate rings. The ionic Au(I) complex 2 and the analogous Ag(I) complex [Ag(dpmma)₂]NO₃ (3) are highly water soluble. The in vitro cytotoxic activity of 2 was assessed against eight different cell lines and no significant activity was found. The solubility properties and solution behaviour of the complexes are compared to the analogous 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane (dppe) complexes and the potential significance of these results to the antitumour properties of chelated 1:2 Au(I)diphosphine complexes are discussed.     

Novel benzimidazol-2-ylidene carbene precursors and their silver(I) complexes: Potential antimicrobial agents

Novel benzimidazolium salts were synthesized as N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors, these NHC precursors were metallated with Ag₂O in dichloromethane at room temperature to give novel silver(I)–NHC complexes. Structures of these benzimidazolium salts and silver(I)–NHC complexes were characterized on the basis of elemental analysis, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, IR and LC–MS spectroscopic techniques. A series of benzimidazolium salts and silver(I)–NHC complexes were tested against standard bacterial strains: Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the fungal strains: Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. The results showed that benzimidazolium salts inhibited the growth of all bacteria and fungi strains and all silver(I)–NHC complexes performed good activities against different microorganisms.     

Impact of the carbon chain length of novel platinum complexes derived from N-alkyl-propanediamines on their cytotoxic activity and cellular uptake

This work describes the synthesis and characterization of four new ligands derived from 1,3-propanediamine in addition to the preparation and characterization of their respective platinum(II) complexes by reaction with K₂PtCl₄. These ligands were obtained by the reaction of the corresponding alkyl mesylate with 1,3-propanediamine. We have prepared compounds having different carbon chains lengths in an attempt to correlate this factor, which influences the lipophilicity of the compounds, with cytotoxic activity. Octanol/water partition coefficients, the effect of the four complexes on the growth of two tumoral cell lines, and their cellular uptake were investigated. Increasing lipophilicity enhances the rate of cellular uptake and, consequently, the cytotoxic activity.     

Lipophilic Pt(II) complexes with selective efficacy against cisplatin-resistant testicular cancer cells

A series of dichloridoplatinum(II) complexes with selective and high cytotoxicity [IC₉₀(96 h) ≤ 3 μM] against cisplatin-resistant 1411HP testicular cancer cells were identified. They bear stationary 6-aminomethylnicotinate or 2,4-diaminobutyrate ligands esterified with lipophilic terpenyl residues, i.e., (−)/(+)-menthyl, (+)-cedrenyl, (−)-menthoxypropyl, or with a decyl-tethered 1,1,2-triphenylethene. They accumulated to a larger extent in 1411HP cells than in cells of the cisplatin-sensitive H12.1 germ cell tumour. Their mechanism of apoptosis induction differed from that of cisplatin by being independent of p53 and of caspase-3 activation and by an early loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential. The new complexes are promising candidates for the treatment of cisplatin-resistant testicular tumours.     

(Pyrazolylmethyl)pyridine platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes: Synthesis, structures and evaluation as anticancer agents

Reactions of 2-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L1), 2-(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L2), 2-(3,5-di-tert-butylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L3) and 2-(3-p-tolylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L4) with K₂[PtCl₄] in a mixture of ethanol and water formed the dichloro platinum complexes [PtCl₂(L1)] (1), [PtCl₂(L2)] (2), [PtCl₂(L3)] (3) and [PtCl₂(L4)] (4). Complex 1, [PtCl₂(L1)], could also be prepared in a mixture of acetone and water. Performing the reactions of L2 and L3 in a mixture of acetone and water, however, led to C-H activation of acetone under mild conditions to form the neutral acetonyl complexes [Pt(CH₂COCH₃)Cl(L2)] (2a) and [Pt(CH₂COCH₃)Cl(L3)] (3a). The same ligands reacted with HAuCl₄ · 4H₂O in a mixture of ethanol and water to form the gold salts [AuCl₂(L1)][AuCl₄] (5) [AuCl₂(L2)][Cl] (6) [AuCl₂(L3)][Cl] (7) and [AuCl₂(L4)][AuCl₄] (8); however, with the pyrazolyl unit in the para position of the pyridinyl ring in 4-(3,5-dimethylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L5), 4-(3,5-diphenylpyrazol-1-ylmethyl)pyridine (L6) neutral gold complexes [AuCl₃(L5)] (9) and [AuCl₂(L6)] (10) were formed; signifying the role the position of the pyrazolyl group plays in product formation in the gold reactions. X-ray crystallographic structural determination of L6, 2, 33a, 8 and 10 were very important in confirming the structures of these compounds; particularly for 3a and 8 where the presence of the acetonyl group confirmed C-H activation and for 8 where the counter ion is . Cytotoxicity studies of L2, L4 and complexes 1-10 against HeLa cells showed the Au complexes were much less active than the Pt complexes.