Ruthenium (II) complexes containing 2-mercaptothiazolinates as ligands and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity

Two complexes with general formula cis-[Ru(N-S)2(PPh3)2] (2-mercaptothiazoline - Hmctz) or 2-mercaptobenzothiazoline - Hmcbtz) were synthesized and fully characterized. Evaluation of antimicrobial activity against Gram (+) and Gram (−) bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively) revealed that both complexes displayed a considerable and specific activity against both prokaryotic organisms, without majorly affecting human cells.