Potent and Selective Cytotoxic and Anti‐inflammatory Gold(III) Compounds Containing Cyclometalated Phosphine Sulfide Ligands

Four cycloaurated phosphine sulfide complexes, [Au{κ 2 ‐2‐C 6 H 4 P(S)Ph 2 } 2 ][AuX 2 ] [X=Cl ( 2 ), Br ( 3 ), I ( 4 )] and [Au{κ 2 ‐2‐C 6 H 4 P(S)Ph 2 } 2 ]PF 6 ( 5 ), have been prepared and thoroughly characterized. The compounds were found to be stable under physiological‐like conditions and showed excellent cytotoxicity against a broad range of cancer cell lines and remarkable cytotoxicity in 3D tumor spheroids. Mechanistic studies with...