Redox and ligand exchange reactions of potential gold(I) and gold(III)-cyanide metabolites under biomimetic conditions

Annapurna J. Canumalla, Norah Al-Zamil, Matthew Phillips, Anvarhusein A. Isab, C. Frank Shaw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

50 Scopus citations

Abstract

Biomimetic pathways for the oxidation of [Au(CN)2]-, a gold metabolite, and further cyanation of the gold(III) products to form Au(CN)4- were investigated using 13C NMR and UV-Visible spectroscopic methods. Hypochlorite ion, an oxidant released during the oxidative burst of immune cells, was employed. The reaction generates mixed dicyanoaurate(III) complexes, trans-[Au(CN)2X2]-, where X- represents equilibrating hydroxide and chloride ligands, and establishes the chemical feasibility of dicyanoaurate oxidation by OCl- to gold(III) species. This oxidation reaction suggests a new procedure for synthesis of H[Au(CN)2Cl2]. Reaction of trans-[Au(CN)2X2]- (X-=Cl- and Br-) or [AuCl4]- with HCN in aqueous solution at pH 7.4 leads directly to [Au(CN)4]- without detection of the anticipated [Au(CN)xX4-x]-intermediates, which is attributed to the cis- and trans-accelerating effects of the cyanides. The reduction of [Au(CN)4]- by glutathione and other thiols is a complex, pH-dependent process that proceeds through two intermediates and ultimately generates [Au(CN)2]-. These studies provide further insight into the possible mechanisms of an immunogenically generated gold(I)/gold(III) redox cycle in vivo.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)67-76
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Inorganic Biochemistry
Volume85
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Auricyanide
  • Aurocyanide
  • Biological redox reactions
  • Cis effects
  • Gold
  • Hypochlorite
  • Trans effects

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Inorganic Chemistry

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