E. Fosso-Kankeu

Spectral, thermal and in vitro antimicrobial studies of cyclohexylamine-N-dithiocarbamate transition metal complexes

Transition metal complexes of the type [M(L)(2)] and those containing monodentate phosphines of the type [M(L)(2)(PPh(3))] {M=Ni, Co, Cu and Zn; L=cyclohexylamine-N-dithiocarbamate; PPh(3)=triphenylphosphine} have been synthesized. The complexes were characterized using IR, UV-vis, NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis (TGA). The (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and (31)P NMR showed the expected signals for the dithiocarbamate and triphenylphosphine moieties. The spectral studies in all compounds revealed that the coordination of metals occurs via the sulphur atom of the dithiocarbamate ligand in a bidentate fashion. Thermal behavior of the complexes showed that the complexes were more stable than their parent ligands. The ligand moiety is lost in the first step and the rest of the organic moiety decomposes in the subsequent steps. Furthermore, the ligand and their metal complexes were screened in vitro for their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus and antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus carbonarius, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus. The metal complexes exhibited higher antimicrobial activity than the parent ligands. Generally, the zinc complexes were effective against the growth of bacteria with Zn(L)(2) displaying broad spectrum bacteriocidal activity at concentrations of 50microg/mL; and Ni(L)(2) was more effective against the growth of fungi at concentrations of 100-400microg/mL under laboratory conditions.

Biosorption potential of Gum ghatti-g-poly(acrylic acid) and susceptibility to biodegradation by B. subtilis

This article reports the biosorption potential of Gum ghatti (Gg)-grafted-acrylic acid (AA) polymer and its susceptibility to biodegradation by Bacillus subtilis (BS) in two different liquid media, i.e. phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and mineral salt medium (MSM). The progress of biodegradation was monitored after every 15 days using FT-IR and SEM techniques. The degradation of the polymer was further evidenced by a loss of weight of 23.2% and 27% in BS-MSM and BS-PBS, respectively, after 60 days. The AA-grafted polymer was then utilized for the removal of Pb(II) and Cu(II) from aqueous solution. The adsorption isotherm data were studied using Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Flory-Huggins and Dubinin-Kaganer-Radushkevich isothermal models. High values of correlation coefficients confirmed the applicability of Langmuir isotherm model used to determine the adsorption capacity of the AA-grafted polymer. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 84.74 mg/g for Cu(II) and 310.55 mg/g for Pb(II). Kinetic data were evaluated using pseudo first order, pseudo second order, Elovich, intraparticle diffusion and liquid film diffusion models. The experimental kinetic data fitted well with the pseudo second order rate model.

Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro antibacterial and antifungal studies of tin(IV) thiohydrazide complexes

Reaction of tin dichloride and tin tetrachloride with cyclohexylamine-N-thiohydrazide (ChaThz) [L1] and 1,3-propanediamine-N-thiohydrazide (PdaThz) [L2] results in [Sn(ChaThz)2] (1), Sn(ChaThz)2Cl2] (2), [Sn(PdaThz)2] (3), and [Sn(PdaThz)2Cl2] (4), in which the thiohydrazide coordinates to tin through imine nitrogen and thioamide sulfur. The ratio metal : ligand was 1 : 2 for all complexes. The tin(IV) thiohydrazide complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, 1H-NMR, 119Sn NMR, and mass spectral studies. Using the disc diffusion method, the ligands and metal complexes were screened for in vitro antibacterial activities against four pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, P. aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus and for antifungal activities against Aspergillus flavus, A. carbonarius, A. niger, and A. fumigatus. While the tin(IV) complexes exhibited moderate antifungal activities, their parent ligands showed much higher and long-lasting broad spectrum of bioactivity against fungal growth. This was particularly the case for L1 whose fungal inhibitory activity by the end of the experimental period was comparable and, for the most part, more pronounced than that of AmB. This higher activity of L1 was maintained specifically against S. Aureus but in general, bacteria were more susceptible to complexes than ligands.