Half-sandwich iridium(III) and rhodium(III) complexes: synthesis, characterization and antifouling properties

The reaction of [(?(5)-C5Me5)MCl2](2 )[M = Ir (1) or Rh (2)] with thiazole ligands (L) at room temperature [L=atz; 2-acetamidothiazole (3) or catz; 5-chloro-2-acetamidothiazole (4)] afforded iridium(III) and rhodium(III) complexes of the type [(?(5)-C5Me5)M(L)Cl-2] [M = Ir; L = atz (5), ctz (6); M = Rh, L=atz (7), catz (8)]. Compounds were characterized by FTIR, NMR (H-1 and C-13) and mass spectroscopic data. The molecular structures of 5 and 6 have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. All the compounds were obtained as neutral complexes and the ligand is coordinated monodentate to the metal. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the compounds against ten marine fouling bacteria showed moderate to good activity against the tested marine fouling bacteria.