Solution and solid state NMR studies of some selenium analogues of auranofin (an anti-arthritic gold drug)

Three mixed ligand complexes of gold(I) with phosphines and selenones, [Et₃PAuSe=C <]Br as analogues of auranofin (Et₃PAuSR) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR methods. A decrease in the IR frequency of the C=Se mode of selenones upon complexation is indicative of selenone binding to gold(I) via a selenone group. An upfield shift in ¹³C NMR for the C=Se resonance of the selenones and downfield shifts in ³¹P NMR for the R₃P moiety are consistent with the selenium coordination to gold(I). ¹³C solid state NMR shows the chemical shift difference between free and bound selenone to gold(I) for ImSe and DiazSe to be ca 10 and 17 ppm respectively. Large ⁷⁷Se NMR chemical shifts (55 ppm) upon complexation in the solid state for [Et₃PAuDiazSe]Br compared to [Et₃PAuImSe]Br (10 ppm) indicates the former to be more stable and the Au-Se bond to be stronger than in the latter complex.