Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties of Zinc and Copper(II) Coordination Compounds with Bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)alkanes

Abstract

Copper(II) and zinc complexes with 1,3-bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)propane (L¹) and 1,4-bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)butane (L²) were synthesized and investigated. The composition and structure of the complexes were studied by elemental and thermogravimetric analysis, ESI mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The complexes were found to have the composition [MLX]X·nH₂O (X = Cl, Br; n = 3–5) and mononuclear cationic structure. The complex [Cu(L²)Cl]Cl·2.5H₂O exhibited a high antibacterial activity against luminescent test bacteria (Photobacterium leiognathi Sh1 and Aliivibrio fischeri F1) and also proved to be highly toxic against rapidly growing human cells. The ligand L² was identified as a promising chemical structure for the development of antibacterial agents, both organic compounds and metal complexes.