Synthesis,characterization and antimicrobial activity of zinc(II) ibuprofen complexes with nitrogen-based ligands

Metal carboxylate complexes possess different carboxylate coordination modes, e.g. monodentate, bidentate, and bridging bidentate. Five Zn(II) complexes were prepared and characterized in order to examine their coordination modes in addition to their biological activity. The syntheses were started by preparation of [Zn(ibup)₂(H₂O)₂] (1). Then, different nitrogen-donor ligands reacted with 1 to produce [Zn(ibup)₂(2-ampy)₂] (2), [Zn(ibup)(2-ammethylpy)] (3), [Zn(ibup)(2,2′-bipy)] (4), and [Zn₂(ibup)₄(2-methylampy)₂] (5) (ibup = ibuprofen, 2-ampy = 2-aminopyridine, 2-ammethylpy = 2-aminomethylpyridine, 2,2′-bipy = 2,2′-bipyridine, 2-methylampy = 2-(methylamino)pyridine). IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C{¹H}-NMR and UV–vis spectroscopies were used for characterization. The crystal structures of 2 and 5 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Investigation of in vitro antibacterial activities for the complexes against Gram-positive (Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis) bacteria were done using agar well-diffusion method. Complex 1 showed antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Complexes 2 and 3 did not exhibit antibacterial activity. Complex 4 showed antibacterial activity and was chosen for further studies to determine the inhibition zone diameter for different concentrations and to set the minimum inhibitory concentration. The antibacterial activity against most of the bacteria was minimized as a result of the complexation of zinc ibuprofen with 2,2′-bipy in 4.