Synthesis, Structural Characterization and Antiproliferative Activity of Gold(I) and Gold(III) Complexes Bearing Thioether‐Functionalized N‐Heterocyclic Carbenes

International audienceA series of gold(I) and gold(III) complexes with N-heterocyclic carbene ligands functionalized with a pendant thioether group (NHC-SR) was synthesized with straightforward procedures and characterized in solution with NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS spectrometry, as well as in the solid state by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Selected experimental aspects were rationalized through relativistic DFT calculations. The gold(I) and gold(III) complexes displayed moderate in vitro cytotoxicity towards breast cancer cells MCF7