Chemical, spectroscopic characterization, and in vitro antibacterial studies of a new gold(I) complex with N-acetyl-L-cysteine

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Processo FAPESP: 08/54290-1

Processo FAPESP: 08/54291-8

Processo FAPESP: 06/55367-2

A new gold(I) complex with N-acetyl-L-cysteine was synthesized and characterized by chemical and spectroscopic techniques. The elemental and thermal analyses of the solid compound fit to the composition AuC5H8NO3S center dot 0.75H2O. Solid-state 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) and infrared (IR) analyses indicate the coordination of the ligand to Au(I) through sulfur. The insolubility of the complex in both polar and non-polar solvents supports a polymeric structure. The antibacterial activity of the complex was evaluated by antibiogram assays using the disc diffusion method. The compound showed effective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram negative) bacterial cells.