Utility of quaternary ammonium salts in synthesis of some novel cyanine dyes as potential antibacterial and antitumor agents

A novel class of quaternary ammonium salts has been synthesized in high yield by a convenient procedure which cleanly afforded a new series of methine cyanine dyes 5-11. Structural spectral studies were carried out via measuring the electronic visible absorption spectra of these dyes in DMF. Structural confirmations were determined through elemental analysis, IR, C-13 NMR, H-1 NMR spectroscopy and mass spectral data. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antitumor activity. Among all the tested compounds, it was found that compound 5 revealed better activity against Gram positive rather than Gram negative bacteria. Also, compound 5 showed better activity as antitumor agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.