Gold containing compounds and methods of use

A compound of the formula:

• wherein R1 and R2, taken together with the gold (Au) to which they are bound, form a polycyclic moiety selected from the group consisting of:
• X is selected from the group consisting of CH2, O, NH, C═O, C═NO-alkynyl, S, or aryl;
• R3, R4, R5, R6 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, and aryl, or R3 and R4 and/or R5 and R6, taken together with the phosphorus (P) to which they are bound, form a cyclic moiety;
• R7 and R8, together with the phosphorus (P) to which they are bound, form a structure selected from the group consisting of:
• in which m is 1, 2, or 3;
• R9 is H, alkyl, or aryl;
• R10 is H, alkyl, aryl, or taken together with two of the atoms of the ring to which it is bound, forms a 6-membered ring;
• Y is C or N;
• L is a linker group;
• and
• W is a water soluble group;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.