Antibacterial and antifungal activity of zinc(II) carboxylates with/without N-donor organic ligands

Abstract

The antibacterial and antifungal activity of zinc(II) carboxylates with composition Zn(RCOO)2.nH2O (R =H-, CH3-, CH3CH2CH2-, (CH3)2CH-, XCH2-, X=Cl, Br, I, n=0 or 2), [ZnX2(Nia+CH2COO-)2] (Nia=nicotinamide, X=Cl, Br, I) and [Zn(XCH2COO)2(Caf)2].2H2O (Caf=caffeine, X=Cl, Br) is studied against bacterial strains Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and yeast Candida albicans. The structural types are assigned to the prepared compounds and the influence of (i) carboxylate chain length, (ii) substitution of hydrogen atom of carboxylate by halogen and (iii) presence of N-donor organic ligands on the biological activity is discussed.