Bis(phosphane)copper(I) and silver(I) dithiocarbamates: crystallography and anti-microbial assay

Abstract

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of (Ph 3 P) 2 M[S 2 CN(Me)CH 2 CH 2 OH], M=Cu, isolated as a 1:1 dichloromethane solvate ( 1 ·CH 2 Cl 2 ), and M=Ag ( 4 ) show the central metal atom to be coordinated by a symmetrically ( 1 ·CH 2 Cl 2 ) and asymmetrically chelating ( 4 ) dithiocarbamate ligand. The distorted tetrahedral geometries are completed by two PPh 3 ligands. The presence of hydroxyl-O–H···S(dithiocarbamate) hydrogen bonds leads to centrosymmetric dimeric aggregates in each crystal structure. In the molecular packing of 1 ·CH 2 Cl 2 , channels comprising 1 are formed via aryl-C–H···O interactions with the solvent molecules associated with the walls of the channels via methylene-C–H···S, π(aryl) interactions. For 4 , the dimeric aggregates are connected via a network of aryl-C–H···π(aryl) interactions. Preliminary screening for anti-microbial activity was conducted. The compounds were only potent against Gram-positive bacteria. Some further selectivity in activity was noted. Most notably, all compounds were active against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus .