Antimicrobial activity of carbene complexes of rhodium(I) and ruthenium(II).

Twenty-four carbene-rhodium(I), carbene-ruthenium(II) complexes and related compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudmonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 16, 18 and 19 were found very effective to inhibit the growth of Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus at the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 5, 25, 5, 50, 25, 24, 24, 24, 6.25and 12.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. The compounds 6, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 17 were significantly effective against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 100-200 micrograms/ml. The compounds 2, 6 and 11 were also significantly effective against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC values of 200-400 micrograms/ml.