Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of (Z)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropenenitrile and its metal complexes: X-ray crystal structures of the Zn(II) and Ag(I) complexes.

(Z)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropenenitrile (imppn) reacts with Cu(ClO4)2 �/6H2O, Zn(CH3CO2)2 �/2H2O and AgClO4 producing [Cu(imppn)4](ClO4)2 �/H2O (1), [Zn(imppn)2(CH3CO2)2] �/2H2O (2) and [Ag2(imppn)4(ClO4)2] (3), respectively. Complexes 2 and 3 were characterised by X-ray crystallography. In 2 the metal lies in a pseudo-tetrahedral environment and is ligated by the imine nitrogens of two imppn ligands and an oxygen atom from each of two monodentate acetate anions. In the dimeric Ag(I) complex 3 each metal is coordinated to the imine nitrogens of two imppn ligands in an almost linear fashion and the two [Ag(imppn)2]� units are linked by an Ag�/Ag bond, supported by two trans bridging bidentate perchlorate groups and by p�/p interactions between the ligands. In vitro tests on the ability of the compounds to inhibit the growth of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans showed that imppn and its metal complexes were markedly less effective than the prescription drug, ketoconazole