Multinuclear Cytotoxic Metallodrugs: Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Properties of Novel Heteronuclear Gold-Titanium Complexes

An unprecedented series of titanocene-gold bi- and trimetallic complexes of the general formula [[(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(μ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)(CH(2))(n)PPh(2))TiCl(2)](m)AuCl(x)](q+) (n = 0, 2, or 4; m = 1, x = 1, q = 0 or m = 2, x = 0, q = 1) have been prepared and characterized spectroscopically. The luminescence spectroscopy and photophysics of one of the compounds, [[(η(5)-C(5)H(5))(μ-η(5):κ(1)-C(5)H(4)PPh(2))TiCl(2)](2)Au]PF(6), have been investigated in 2MeTHF solution and in the solid state at 77 and 298 K. Evidence for interfragment interactions based on the comparison of electronic band positions and emission lifetimes, namely, triplet energy transfer (ET) from the Au- to the Ti-containing…