Pincer complexes of gold: An overview of synthesis, reactivity, photoluminescence, and biological applications

This chapter discusses the structures, reactivity patterns, and applications of gold(III) pincer complexes, organized according to ligand types: (1) neutral heteroatom pincers type N^N^N; (2) anionic heteroatom pincers N(-)^N^N(-) and E(-)^N^E(-) (E=O, S); (3) neutral C-based pincers C^N^N; (4) monoanionic C-based pincers C(-)^N^N, C^N(-)^C, and N^C(-)^N; and (5) dianionic C-based ligands C(-)^N^C(-) and C(-)^C(-)^N, with emphasis on the more recent literature. The ability of pincer complexes to stabilize previously unknown compounds, such as gold(III) hydrides, alkene, CO, and CO2 complexes is discussed, followed by a discussion on their photophysical properties and the applications as luminescent compounds and a survey of their biological and medicinal activity, especially their role as cytotoxic agents in anticancer studies.