Evaluation of bactericidal and fungicidal activity of ferrocenyl or phenyl derivatives in the diphenyl butene series

Some ferrocene compounds, such as tamoxifen derivatives hydroxyferrocifen 1 and ferrociphenol 2, show strong antiproliferative activity on hormone-dependent and hormone-independent breast cancer cells. In order to evaluate their antimicrobial activity, they were tested, together with their purely organic analogs, on the bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. It has been found that the compounds bearing alkylamino chains are active, and in these cases the antimicrobial activity increases for compounds bearing two amino chains. These dialkyamino compounds are equally as active as doxycycline on P. aeruginosa and S. aureus but superior to it on C. albicans. The results show that there are no general correlation between the antitumoral activity and the bactericidal and fungicidal activities of these compounds. The ferrocene derivatives and their organic analogs have similar activity on bacteria and fungus. This bactericidal and fungicidal behaviour is a novel area of activity for these entities.

Graphical abstractPhenyl and ferrocene compounds bearing alkylamino chains, in the tamoxifen and ferrocifen series, were found to be as active as the antibiotic doxycycline on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideResearch highlights► Synthesis of ferrocenyl and phenyl butene derivatives. ► Antimicrobial activities are studied and compared to antiproliferative effect. ► Dialkyl amino compounds are equally as active as doxycycline. ► There is no general correlation between antitumoral and antimicrobial activities.