Synthesis and antibacterial activity of metal complexes of cefazolin

Cefazolin (Hcefaz) interacts with transition metal(II) ions to give M(cefaz)Cl] complexes (M = Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II, Zn^II, Pd^II) and Ag₂(cefaz)₂Cl₂] which were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. Their i.r. and the ¹H-n.m.r. spectra suggest that cefazolin behaves as a monoanionic tetradentate ligand. The complexes have been screened for antibacterial activity and the results are compared with the activity of cefazolin.