Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths worldwide, due to the lack of effective anticancer agents,
and the agents leading to side-effects. It is therefore crucial to find an anticancer agent which is effective
enough to destroy the cancer cells without causing side-effects. Silver(I) complexes have the potential to
be applied as effective anticancer agents, due to their excellent antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.
Silver(I) benzyldiphenylphosphine complexes were synthesised and characterised by means of NMR, FTIR
as well as single crystal X-ray diffractometry (SXRD). The crystal structure revealed a trigonal planar
geometry, which is rarely seen in silver chemistry. In addition, the anticancer activity of these complexes
was evaluated against a malignant SNO (oesophageal) cancer cell line. The viability of the cells after treatment
with the complexes were determined using an alamarBlue viability assay. The possible mode of
cell death, being apoptosis, necrosis or both, was determined by studying the treated cells under a
microscope. A significant decrease in the viability of the cells after 24 h treatment with the complexes
was observed. The morphological studies revealed that apoptosis could be a possible mode of cell death,
however some necrosis was observed. Silver(I) benzyldiphenylphosphine complexes shows potential as
effective anticancer agents.