Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial studies on 13-membered-N6-macrocyclic transition metal complexes containing trimethoprim

Abstract

Asymmetrical macrocyclic complexes of MnII, CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII have been synthesized by the template process using bis(benzil)ethylenediamine as precursor. Bis(benzil)ethylenediamine reacts with transition metal chlorides and trimethoprim in a 1:1:1 molar ratio in methanol to give several solid metal complexes of the general composition [M(L)X2] (M = MnII, CoII, NiII, CuII and ZnII, L = ligand and X = Cl−). They were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Based on analytical, spectral and magnetic moments, all the complexes are identified as distorted octahedral structures. All the complexes are of the [M(L)X2] type. The shifts of the ν(CN) (azomethine) stretches have been monitored. To find out the donor sites of the ligands, the activity data show that the metal complexes are more potent than the parent ligand. The [M(L)X2] complexes showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity in vitro against both gram-positive and gram-negative human pathogenic bacterial isolates and the antimicrobial spectrum enhanced only with a combination of metal chlorides and trimethoprim complex. From the results it is imperative that the synthesized macrocyclic [M(L)X2] complexes exhibit potent broad spectrum antibacterial activity. Keywords: Trimethoprim, Bis(benzil)ethylenediamine, Antimicrobial activity, Schiff bases