Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Properties of Zinc and Copper(II) Coordination Compounds with Bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)alkanes

Copper(II) and zinc complexes with 1,3-bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)propane (L1) and 1,4-bis((pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolyl)butane (L2) were synthesized and investigated. The composition and structure of the complexes were studied by elemental and thermogravimetric analysis, ESI mass spectrometry, IR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. The complexes were found to have the composition [MLX]X·nH2O (X = Cl, Br; n = 3–5) and mononuclear cationic structure. The complex [Cu(L2)Cl]Cl·2.5H2O exhibited a high antibacterial activity against luminescent test bacteria (Photobacterium leiognathi Sh1 and Aliivibrio fischeri F1) and also proved to be highly toxic against rapidly growing human cells. The ligand L2 was identified as a promising chemical structure for the development of antibacterial agents, both organic compounds and metal complexes.