Zinc(II) complexes of 2-pyridine-derived N (4)- p -tolyl thiosemicarbazones: study of in vitro antibacterial activity

Reaction of N(4)-p-tolyl-2-formylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Fo4pT), N(4)-p-tolyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4pT), and N(4)-p-tolyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4pT) with ZnCl₂ gave [Zn(H2Fo4pT)Cl₂] (1), [Zn(H2Ac4pT)Cl₂] (2), and [Zn(H2Bz4pT)Cl₂] (3). In the first two complexes a tridentate N_py–N–S thiosemicarbazone binds to the zinc while in the latter N–S coordination occurs. Upon coordination the antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium increases in 1 and 3.