Crystal structure, spectroscopic characterization and antibacterial activities of a silver complex with sulfameter

• A silver(I) complex with sulfameter.
• Structure elucidation of the complex was achieved by powder X-ray diffraction.
• Infrared and NMR spectroscopies supported the proposed structure.
• The complex was selectively active over Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains.

A silver complex with the sulfonamide sulfameter, also known as sulfamethoxydiazine (SMTR), was prepared and characterized. Chemical analyses were consistent with the [Ag(C11H11N4O3S)] composition (AgSMTR), while conductivity measurements in DMSO indicated a non-electrolyte behavior of the complex in this solvent. High-resolution ESI(+)-QTOF mass spectrometric experiments revealed the presence of the [Ag(C11H11N4O3S)+H]+ and [Ag2(C11H11N4O3S)2+H]+ species in solution. Infrared and NMR spectroscopies indicated coordination of the ligand to the metal by the nitrogen atoms of the sulfonamide group and of the pyrimidine ring. The structure of AgSMTR was solved by powder X-ray diffraction technique using the Rietveld method. The solved structure confirms the formation of a dimer, where each silver ion is coordinated by one of the nitrogen atoms of the pyrimidine ring, the nitrogen of the sulfonamide group and by an oxygen atom from the sulfonyl group. An argentophilic interaction of 2.901(1) Å is present in this dimeric structure. The AgSMTR complex was assayed over Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacterial strains, and it was found that the compound is 8 times more active over the Gram-negative bacteria in DMSO solution, with MIC values in the micromolar range.

Molecular view of the silver(I) complex with sulfameter. The silver atoms are light yellow colored, while nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, carbon and hydrogen atoms are in blue, red, yellow, black, and white, respectively.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide