Synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity of two silver(I) compounds with 4-dimethylaminopyridine

Two new silver(I) compounds, [Ag(4-dmapy)2(p-bromophenylacetate)] center dot H2O (1) and [Ag(4-dmapy)2(p-hydroxyphenylacetate)]center dot 2H2O (2) (4-dmapy = 4-dimethylaminopyridine), have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystallographic analysis reveals that 1 and 2 contain a linear Ag(4-dmapy)2 chromophore, which further forms dimeric silver(I) units via weak silver-silver interaction. The short Ag center dot center dot center dot Ag separations in 1 and 2 are 3.0395(12) and 3.2697(10) angstrom, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 have good anti-Bacillus subtilis activity invitro (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC = 12.5 mu g mL-1) but were inactive against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli (MIC 50 mu g mL-1).