Cytotoxicity of cationic NHC copper(I) complexes coordinated to 2,2'-bis-pyridyl ligands

Cytotoxicity of cationic (NHC)Cu(I) complexes bearing 2,2′-dipyridylamine (dpa) type ligands has been evaluated toward 4 cancer cell lines, and compared to the one of neutral (NHC)Cu(I) complexes. The high cytotoxicity of these novel cationic (NHC)Cu(I) complexes, combined with the straightforward synthesis, and versatility of dpa type ligands may offer new prospects in cancer research, toward the development of novel carrier linked prodrugs.