Synthesis of sandwich type acyclic tetra-nuclear silver(I)-N-heterocyclic carbene complexes for wound healing applications.

Two meta-xylyl linked tetrakisbenzimidazolium salts (L1-L2) as multidentate ligands and two respective silver complexes (C1 and C2) were synthesized. A multistep reaction was done at room temperature, starting with simple benzimidazole and alkyl halides, going through precursors and salt formation by reflux and finally in situ deprotonation of tetra-benzimidazolium salts with Ag2O to yield respective tetra-nuclear Ag(I)-N-heterocyclic Carbene (NHC) complexes. Propyl and butyl groups were bonded at the terminal positions of tetra-azolium open chain salts. Characterization of compounds was done by analytical and spectroscopic techniques. On the basis of spectroscopic data, a chemical structurewith open chains having four Ag(I) ions sandwiched between NHC layers was established. Potential of synthesized complexes (C1 & C2) for wound contraction was evaluated and compared with standard wound contraction gel. Percentage wound contraction of both complexes was found very close to that of standard drug used in parallel.