1,2,3-Triazole‑gold(I)-triethylphosphine derivatives of nutrients as new antimicrobials against antibiotic resistant Gram-positive pathogens

Abstract

The ongoing rise of bacterial resistance against antibiotics is an incentive to develop radically new antibacterial molecules. Innovative organo-gold(I) antibacterial compounds were synthesized by click chemistry with triethylphosphine‑gold(I) azides and alkyne-functionalized metabolites like amino acids, nicotinic acid and biotin. The resulting organo‑gold(I) compounds exhibited remarkable activities against a panel of Gram-positive pathogens (Staphyloccocus sp., Enterococcus sp. and Clostridium difficile) but failed to inhibit the growth of Gram-negative bacilli (e.g., Escherichia coli) under the conditions used (8 μg. mL⁻¹ maximum).