Antimicrobial activity of Zn-II, Cd-II, and Hg-II complexes of 1,2-Bis-[2-(5-R)-1H-benzimidazolyl]-1,2-ethanediols and 1,4-Bis-[2-(5-R)-1H-benzimidazolyl]-1,2,3,4-butanetetraols

Abstract

1,2-Bis-[2-(5-H/Me/Cl/NO2)-1H-benzimidazolyl]-1,2-ethanediols(L-1-L-4), 1,4-bis-[2-(5-H/Me/Cl)-1H-benzimidazolyl]-1,2,3,4-butanetetraols (L-5-L-7) and their complexes with ZnCl2, CdCl2 and HgCl2 were synthesized and antibacterial activity of the compounds was tested toward Slaphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, Proteus mirabilis and antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Hg-II complexes have a considerably higher antimicrobial activity against all microorganisms. Some Hg-II complexes show higher antifungal activity than clotrimazole toward C. albicans. Zn-2(L-3)Cl-4, Zn-2(L-4)Cl-4, and Cd(L-3)Cl-2 were moderately effective against S. aureus and S. epidermidis; Cd(L-4)Cl-2 exhibited a weak activity only against S. epidermidis.