A complex of ceftriaxone with Pb(II): synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity study

A Pb(II) complex with ceftriaxone (H2Ceftria) antibiotic was synthesized by reaction of ceftriaxone disodium salt (hemi)heptahydrate with lead nitrate in water–ethanol medium. The complex was characterized on the basis of complexometric titration, spectrophotometric and thermogravimetric analyses, capillary electrophoresis, IR, Raman and UV–vis spectroscopies, and density functional theory calculations. Pb(II) is five-coordinate with distorted square pyramidal geometry. The coordination of Ceftria2− to Pb(II) occurs through N and O of the triazine, lactam carbonyl, carboxylate, and amine groups. The antibacterial activity study showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae is resistant to [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H2O. The antibacterial activity of [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H2O against Staphylococcus aureus is reduced compared with ceftriaxone. In contrast, the antibacterial activity of [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H2O against Escherichia coli is 28% higher than that of ceftriaxone antibiotic.