Synthesis, spectral characterization, electrochemical properties and antimicrobial screening of sulfur containing acylferrocenes

Several known and eight new sulfur containing acylferrocenes of the general formula FcCO(CH2)nSR (where Fc = ferrocenyl, n = 1 or 2 and R = alkyl, 4-bromobenzyl or 2,6-dichlorobenzyl group) were synthesized in order to test their in vitro antimicrobial activity against 11 bacterial and three fungal/yeast strains. It has been shown that only four of the 14 ketones are completely inactive at the tested dose, while the activities of the other ones were noteworthy. All new compounds were well characterized by IR and NMR spectral data, and their electrochemical properties were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The X-ray crystal structures of two representative ketones are also presented.

Graphical abstractSeveral sulfur containing acylferrocenes were synthesized, characterized and tested for their antimicrobial activity against eleven bacterial and three fungal strains. Single crystal X-ray structure determinations of two representative ketones (RCH3, n = 1 and RCH3, n = 2) are also reported.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide