[Ag(HL)NO3] complexes (1-4) were obtained with (E)-N’-(1-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propan-2-ylidene)acetohydrazide (HL1); (E)-N’-(1-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propan-2-ylidene)benzohydrazide (HL2); (E)-2-(1-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (HL3) and (E)-N-methyl-2-(1-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propan-2-ylidene)hydrazinecarbothioamide (HL4) secnidazole-derived Schiff bases. In addition, complexes [Bi(HL3)Cl3] (5) and [Bi(HL4)Cl3] (6) were also prepared. The silver(I) complexes (1-4) showed antifungal activity against Candida fungal strains while the uncomplexed ligands and the bismuth(III) complexes (5-6) were inactive, suggesting that the antifungal effects are probably due to the presence of silver. Although the Schiff base ligands and complexes (1-6) revealed to be inactive against Gram-positive and Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, all compounds exhibited potent antimicrobial effects against several anaerobic bacterial strains, indicating that their mode of action probably involves anaerobic bio reduction of the nitro group, with formation of metabolites which are toxic to the microorganisms. Electrochemistry studies showed that bio reduction of the nitro group is favored in complexes (1-6) in comparison to the free ligands, which might, at least in part, explain their increased antimicrobial effects.

Lapachol was chemically modified to obtain its thiosemicarbazone and semicarbazone derivatives. These compounds were tested for antimicrobial activity against several bacteria and fungi by the broth microdilution method. The thiosemicarbazone and semicarbazone derivatives of lapachol exhibited antimicrobial activity against the bacteria Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.05 and 0.10 µmol/mL, respectively. The thiosemicarbazone and semicarbazone derivatives were also active against the pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus gattii (MICs of 0.10 and 0.20 µmol/mL, respectively). In addition, the lapachol thiosemicarbazone derivative was active against 11 clinical isolates of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, with MICs ranging from 0.01-0.10 µmol/mL. The lapachol-derived thiosemicarbazone was not cytotoxic to normal cells at the concentrations that were active against fungi and bacteria. We synthesised, for the first time, thiosemicarbazone and semicarbazone derivatives of lapachol. The MICs for the lapachol-derived thiosemicarbazone against S. aureus, E. faecalis, C. gattii and several isolates of P. brasiliensis indicated that this compound has the potential to be developed into novel drugs to treat infections caused these microbes.

Reações de tricloreto de n-butilestanho, [Bu nSnCl3], e tricloreto de fenilestanho, [PhSnCl3], com 2-acetilpiridina benzoil hidrazona (H2AcPh), 2-acetilpiridina-para-cloro-benzoil hidrazona (H2AcpClPh) e 2-acetilpiridina-para-nitro benzoil hidrazona (H2AcpNO2Ph) produziram os complexos [Bu nSn(2AcPh)Cl2] (1), [Bu nSn(2AcpClPh)Cl2] (2), [Bu nSn(2AcpNO2Ph)Cl2] (3), [PhSn(2AcPh)Cl2] (4), [PhSn(2AcpClPh)Cl2] (5) e [PhSn(2AcpNO2Ph)Cl2] (6). H2AcpClPh revelou-se a hidrazona mais ativa contra Staphylococcus aureus e Candida albicans. Pela coordenação a atividade antibacteriana tanto do metal quanto das hidrazonas aumenta significativamente. Os complexos 2 e 5 revelaram-se os mais ativos como agentes antimicrobianos.

Reaction of n-butyltin trichloride, [Bu nSnCl3], and phenyltin trichloride, [PhSnCl3], with 2-acetylpyridine benzoyl hydrazone (H2AcPh), 2-acetylpyridine para-chloro-benzoyl hydrazone (H2AcpClPh) and 2-acetylpyridine para-nitro-benzoyl hydrazone (H2AcpNO2Ph) gave [Bu nSn(2AcPh)Cl2] (1), [Bu nSn(2AcpClPh)Cl2] (2), [Bu nSn(2AcpNO2Ph)Cl2] (3), [PhSn(2AcPh)Cl2] (4), [PhSn(2AcpClPh)Cl2] (5) and [PhSn(2AcpNO2Ph)Cl2] (6) as products. Among the hydrazones H2AcpClPh proved to be the most active against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. Upon coordination the antibacterial activity of both tin and the hydrazones significantly increases. Complexes 2 and 5 revealed to be the most active as antimicrobial agents.

Três complexos inéditos do tipo [Cu(HL)Cl2] foram obtidos com N(4)-orto (H2Bz4oT, HL1), N(4)-meta (H2Bz4mT, HL2) e N(4)-para-toluil-2-benzoilpiridina tiossemicarbazona (H2Bz4pT, HL3), nos quais a tiossemicarbazona coordena-se ao metal por meio do sistema quelante Npy-N-S. H2Bz4pT (HL3) cristaliza-se no grupo espacial P1, a = 9,509(3) Å, b = 9,807(4) Å, c = 11,564(4) Å; alfa = 100,76(2)°, beta = 105,99(2)°, gama = 114,59(2)°. Tanto as tiossemicarbazonas quanto seus complexos de cobre(II) apresentaram atividade antifúngica pronunciada contra Candida albicans, com valores baixos de concentração inibitória mínima (CIM), entre 8 e 0,3 µg mL-1 (23 a 0,7 µmol L-1) para as tiossemicarbazonas e entre 1 e 0,1 µg mL-1 (2 a 0,3 µmol L-1) para os complexos. Nossos resultados sugerem que a coordenação ao cobre constitui estratégia interessante de redução da dose necessária à atividade.

Three new copper complexes of general formula [Cu(HL)Cl2] have been obtained with N(4)-ortho (H2Bz4oT, HL1), N(4)-meta (H2Bz4mT, HL2) and N(4)-para-tolyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4pT, HL3), in which the thiosemicarbazone attaches to the metal through the Npy-N-S chelating system. H2Bz4pT (HL3) crystallizes in the P1 space group, with a = 9.509(3) Å, b = 9.807(4) Å, c = 11.564(4) Å; alpha = 100.76(2)°, beta = 105.99(2)°, gamma = 114.59(2)°. The thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes exhibit high antifungal activities against Candida albicans with low values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), in the 8-0.3 µg mL-1 (23 - 0.7 µmol L-1) range for the free bases and in the 1-0.1 µg mL-1 (2 - 0.3 µmol L-1) range for the complexes. Our results suggest that coordination to copper(II) could be an interesting strategy for dose reduction.

This article shows that thiosemicarbazones, semicarbazones and their metal complexes can exhibit target selectivity along with a wide pharmacological profile. Complexes of thiosemicarbazones with cytotoxic or antitumoral activity are presented, some of which show activity against cisplatinum-resistant cells. The inhibition mechanism of the enzyme ribonucleoside diphosphate reductase (RDR), involved in DNA syntheses, by alpha(N)-heterocyclic thiosemicarbazones is discussed. The encouraging results of clinical trials with the RDR inhibitor 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone ("Triapine") against rapidly growing tumors are outlined. Examples are also given of thiosemicarbazones with antiviral and antimicrobial activity. The possible applications of semicarbazones as anticonvulsants with low toxicity and good therapeutic index are presented.

Complexos de tiossemicarbazonas derivadas de 3- e 4-formilpiridina (H3FPT e H4FPT) e 3- e 4-acetilpiridina (H3APT e H4APT) com níquel(II) e cobre(I) ou cobre(II) foram preparados e caracterizados através de microanálises, medidas de condutividade molar e susceptibilidade magnética e por meio de seus espectros de infravermelho e de R.M.N., no caso dos complexos de cobre(I) e dos complexos diamagnéticos de níquel(II).

Nickel(II) and copper(I) or copper(II) complexes of thiosemicarbazones derived from 3- and 4-formylpyridine (H3FPT and H4FPT) and 3- and 4-acetylpyridine (H3APT and H4APT) have been prepared and characterized by microanalyses, molar conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements and by their NMR (in the case of copper(I) and diamagnetic nickel(II) complexes) and IR spectra.

RESUMO Foram obtidos e caracterizados três complexos de ferro da 2-acetilpiridina tiossemicarbazona (2APT): [Fe(HAPT)(APT)]Cl2 (I), [Fe(HAPT)2]Cl2 (II), e [Fe(APT)2] (III), nos quais HAPT representa o ligante protonado no nitrogênio N(2') da cadeia lateral e APT- o ligante desprotonado em N(2'). A coordenação ao íon metálico ocorre através do sistema tridentado Npy ∩ N(1') ∩ (S), com a formação de complexos do tipo L:M 2:1. Os parâmetros Mössbauer δ (desvio isomérico) e ∆ (desdobramento quadrupolar) são característicos de Fe(III) para o complexo I e de Fe(II) para os complexos II e III, todos de spin baixo e simetria octaédrica. O valor de d diminui quando se passa do complexo [Fe(HAPT)2]Cl2 (II, δ = 0,264 ±0,001 mm/s) ao complexo [Fe(APT)2] (III, δ = 0,227 ±0,001 mm/s), em razão da maior densidade eletrônica de eletrons s no metal no segundo complexo, resultante do efeito indutivo eletrodoador do grupo metila e da carga negativa no enxofre de tiolato que o tornam um melhor doador sigma do que o enxofre de tiona do primeiro complexo. O desdobramento quadrupolar D aumenta quando se passa do complexo protonado, II (∆ = 0,537 ± 0,002 mm/s) ao desprotonado, III (∆ = 0,755 ±0,002 mm/s), provavelmente em razão da diferença na natureza dos dois ligantes, principalmente na ordem das ligações metal-enxofre.

Three iron complexes of 2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone were obtained, namely [Fe(HAPT)(APT)]Cl2 (I), [Fe(HAPT)2]Cl2 (II), and [Fe(APT)2] (III), in which HAPT stands for the ligand protonated at the N(2') level in the side chain and APT- for the ligand deprotonated at N(2'). The coordination to the metal ion occurs through the tridentate ligating Npy ∩ N(1') ∩ (S), system with formation of 2:1 ligand-to-metal complexes having meridional stereochemistry. The Mössbauer parameters δ (isomer shift) and ∆ (quadrupole splitting) are characteristic of Fe(III) for complex I and of Fe(II) for both complexes II and III, all low spin with octahedral geometry. The isomer shift value decreases in going from [Fe(HAPT)2]Cl2 (II, δ = 0.264 ± 0.001 mm/s) to [Fe(APT)2] (III, δ = 0.227 ± 0.001 mm/s), due to the higher s electron density of the latter. This results from the electron donor inductive effect of the acetyl methyl group and the negative charge of the thiolate sulfur, which is consequently a better sigma donor than the thione sulfur. The quadrupole splitting increases in going from II (∆ = 0.537 ± 0.002 mm/s) to III (∆ = 0.755 ± 0.002 mm/s), probably due to ligand inequivalencies, a significant contribution being attributed to differences in the metal-ligand bond order.