Complexation of 2-acetylpyridine- and 2-benzoylpyridine-derived hydrazones to copper(II) as an effective strategy for antimicrobial activity improvement

Complexes [Cu(2AcPh)Cl]·2H 2O (1), [Cu(2AcpClPh)Cl] ·2H 2O (2), [Cu(2AcpNO 2Ph)Cl] (3), [Cu(2BzPh)Cl] (4). [Cu(2BzpClPh)Cl] (5) and [Cu(2BzpNO 2Ph)Cl] (6) were obtained with 2-acetylpyridine-phenylhydrazone (H2AcPh), 2-acetylpyridine-para-chloro- phenylhydrazone (H2AcpClPh), 2-acetylpyridine-para-nitro-phenylhydrazone (H2AcpNO 2Ph), 2-benzoylpyridine-phenylhydrazone (H2BzPh), 2-benzoylpyridine-para-chloro-phenylhydrazone (H2BzpClPh) and 2-benzoylpyridine-para-nitro-phenylhydrazone (H2BzpNO 2Ph). The hydrazones showed poor antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but demonstrated significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans. Upon coordination to copper(II) the antibacterial and antifungal activities appreciably increased. H2AcpClPh, H2BzpClPh and their copper(II) complexes (2) and (5), respectively, were as active as fluconazole against C. albicans. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fil: Recio Despaigne, Angel A.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Da Costa, Fernanda B.. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Piro, Oscar Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Castellano, Eduardo E.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Louro, Sonia R.W.. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Beraldo, Heloisa. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasi