Antimicrobial Piano-Stool and Polypyridyl Ru(II) Complexes with Thiazolhidrazinylidene-Chroman-2,4-Dione: Tautomerism, Membrane Disruption, and Electron Transport Interference.

Abstract

A library of (η⁶-p-cymene)Ru(II) and Ru(II) bis-bpy complexes bearing thiazolhidrazinylidene-chroman-2,4-dione was synthesized, characterized, and the molecules are evaluated for their antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity. From this library, several compounds are identified as being active against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus. A polypyridyl complex showed a noteworthy minimum inhibitor concentration of 3.1 μm and no toxicity in healthy eukaryotic cells with a therapeutic index of >32. Active complexes appear to exert their antibiotic activity by affecting both the permeabilization of the bacterial membrane and/or the electron transport chain.