Increasing the antibacterial activity of gallium(III) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa upon coordination to pyridine-derived thiosemicarbazones

Reaction of N(4)-phenyl-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Fo4Ph), N(4)-phenyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4Ph) and N(4)-phenyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4Ph) with gallium nitrate gave [Ga(H2Fo4Ph)2](NO3)3 (1), [Ga(2Ac4Ph)2]NO3 (2) and [Ga(2Bz4Ph)2]NO3 (3). In all complexes coordination of the thiosemicarbazone via the Npy–N–S chelating system occurs. In 1 the thiosemicarbazone acts as a neutral ligand while in 2 and 3 the ligand is anionic. Upon slow diffusion of 2 in DMSO [Ga(2Ac4Ph)2]NO3·DMSO (2a) was formed. The crystal structure of 2a was determined. Upon coordination the antibacterial activity of both gallium and thiosemicarbazones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increases.

Graphical abstractReaction of N(4)-phenyl-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Fo4Ph, HL1), N(4)-phenyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4Ph, HL2) and N(4)-phenyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4Ph, HL3) with gallium nitrate gave [Ga(H2Fo4Ph)2](NO3)3 (1), [Ga(2Ac4Ph)2]NO3 (2) and [Ga(2Bz4Ph)2]NO3 (3). In all complexes coordination of the thiosemicarbazone via the Npy–N–S chelating system occurs. Upon coordination the antibacterial activity of both gallium and thiosemicarbazones against Pseudomonas aeruginosa significantly increases.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide