X-RAY STUDIES AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY IN COPPER AND COBALT COMPLEXES WITH IMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVE LIGANDS

The complexes Diaqua-bis(5-nitroimidazole)-copper(II)-dinitrate (1); Tetrakis(4- phenylimidazole)-copper(II)-dinitrate, ethanol solvate (2); Bis(4-phenylimidazole)-bis(acetate)-copper(II) (3); Hexakis(4-phenylimidazole)-cobalt(II)-acetate (4) and Bis(2- phenylimidazole)-bis(acetate)-cobalt(II) (5), have been synthesized. Their structures were determined by X-ray analysis. The antimicrobial activities of these complexes have been screened in vitro against the microorganisms Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes. Complexes (1) and (3) showed antimicrobial activity over Gram positive and negative bacteria by a bacteriostatic effect. On the other hand, complexes (4) and (5) showed antibacterial activity with a bacteriolytic effect over Gram positive and negative bacteria. The cytotoxicity of complexes (3) and (4) was tested in vitro. These complexes presented cytotoxic effect to values near the MIC.