Synthesis and antimicrobial studies of silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes bearing a methyl benzoate substituent

Due to the properties of silver as an antimicrobial, our research group has synthesized many different silver carbene complexes. Two new silver N-heterocyclic carbene complexes derived from 4,5-dichloroimidazole and theobromine bearing methyl benzoate substituents were synthesized by in situ carbene formation using silver acetate as the base in the reaction. The new compounds were fully characterized by several methods including NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. Preliminary antimicrobial efficacy studies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli were conducted. The results of this study demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy of the two complexes comparable to silver nitrate, showing their potential for use in the treatment of bacterial infections.