Antimicrobial and SOD activities of novel transition metal complexes of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylic acid containing 4-picoline as auxiliary ligand.

Ternary complexes are potential models for several mono and polynuclear metal enzymes. The present ternary complexes [Fe(dipic)(4-picoline)]Cl, [M(dipic)(4-picoline)] [M = Co or Ni] and [Cu(dipic)(4-picoline)]n were prepared to exploit as novel antimicrobial agents. The chemical structure and bonding etc. were elucidated by spectral studies. Single crystal X-ray data of the Cu(II) complex indicated formation of 1D coordination polymeric structure. The antimicrobial activities investigated against Escherichia coli (K-12), Bacillus subtilis (MTCC-121), Staphylococcus aureus (IOA-SA-22), Salmonella typhymurium (MTCC-98), Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium marneffei (isolates from Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Science, AMU) showed significant activities. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of the Cu(II) complex was also assessed by NBT assay. Copyright 2009 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.