Antibacterial and DNA cleavage activity of carbonyl functionalized N-heterocyclic carbene-silver(I) and selenium compounds.

The article describes syntheses and characterizations of carbonyl functionalized benzimidazolium salts, I–IV . While salts I–III are unstable at room temperature, salt IV remained stable and was further utilised to form N -heterocyclic carbene (NHC) compounds of silver(I), V and VI , and selenium compound, VII respectively. Compounds IV–VII were tested for their antibacterial potential against Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ). Salt IV shows a very low inhibition potential (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC 500 μg/mL) compared to the respective silver(I)-NHC, V and VI (MIC 31.25 μg/mL against both, E. coli and S. aureus ) and selenium compound, VII (MIC 125 μg/mL against E. coli and 62.50 μg/mL against S. aureus ). In DNA cleavage abilities, all the test compounds cleave DNA in which the VII cleaves the DNA at the faster rate. Meanwhile, the silver(I)-NHC complexes V and VI act at the same mode and pattern of DNA cleavage while VII is similar to IV . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]