Synthesis, characterization and anticancer activity of new benzimidazolium salts with their Ag(I) and Au(I) bis-NHC complexes

The research shows how to the synthesis and characterization of new substituted benzimidazolium salts, identify their Ag(I), and Au(I) bis-NHC complexes, and assess their anticancer activity of these compounds. Benzimidazolium salts have been derived from various substitution such as aliphatic chains and phenylacetamide chloride to produce asymmetrically substituted salts. New Ag(I) bis N-heterocyclic carbene complexes were synthesized from the in situ deprotonation process of asymmetrically di substituted benzimidazolium salts with Ag2O. Afterwards, Ag(I) bis-NHC complexes were used as transfer reagents in the transmetallation process to create Au(I) bis-NHC. The prepared complexes were characterized using (1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and FT-IR) spectro techniques. The anticancer activity of benzimidazolium salts and Ag(I) and Au(I) complexes showed good activity compared to cisplatin as standard substance.