Synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and in vitro studies of antimicrobial activity of bis(diorganodithiocarbamato)organodithiocarbonatobismuth (III) complexes

A brief account of the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization and the antimicrobial (bacterial and fungal) behaviour of bis(diorganodithiocarbamato)organodithiocarbonatobismuth(III) complexes is presented. The reaction of bis(diorganodithiocarbamato)bismuth(III) chloride with potassium organodithiocarbonate in equimolar ratio yielded the corresponding mixed derivatives of the type [R'2NCS2](2)BiS2COR [where, R'= CH3 and C2H5; R = Et, Pr-n, Pr-i, Bu-n and Bu-i]. These have been characterized by molecular weight determinations, melting points (only solid complexes) and elemental (C, H, N, S and Bi) analysis as well as spectral IR and NMR [H-1 and C-13] studies. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the free ligands and their bismuth complexes were found in vitro by the disc diffusion method. The complexes showed good antibacterial and antifungal effect on some selected bacterial and fungal strains. The antimicrobial activities of two standard antibiotics (Chloroarnphenicol and Terbinafin) were also measured and compared with these complexes. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.