Structural and antimicrobial studies of potassium hydrotris(2-mercaptobenzathiazolyl)borate and its organotin(IV) derivatives

Potassium hydrotris(2-mercaptobenzathiazolyl)borate (KL) was formed by the solid state reaction of potassium borohydride and 2-mercaptobenzathiazoline. This ligand was reacted with R(n)SnCl(4-n) (R = methyl, butyl and phenyl, n = 2 and 3) in dichloromethane and four different neutral organotin(IV) complexes were obtained. All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR and multinuclear NMR ((1)H, (13)C, (11) B and (119)Sn) spectroscopy. Spectroscopic data indicate the six-coordinated nature of tin in its di and triorganotin(IV) complexes. To check the toxic potential of the ligand and its organotin(IV) complexes, selected bacterial (E. coli, S. epidemidis and S. dysenteriae) and fungal (A. niger, C. albicanes and A. flaves) species were screened. The results were compared with standard drugs kinamycine and miconazole for bacterial and fungal activity, respectively. The toxicity of the organotin(IV) complexes depends on the number and nature of organic groups attached to the tin atom; triorganotin(IV) complexes exhibit better inhibition than diorganotin(IV) complexes. All compounds were also screened on the cyanobacterial strains (Aulosira fertillissma, Anabaena variabilis, Anabaena species and Nostoc muscorum). Results show that the compounds inhibit the growth of organisms at very low concentration.