LAUSR

Abstract The synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) precursors and their respective silver(I)-NHC complexes are reported. Five non-symmetric benzimidazolium bromide salts were synthesized through the addition of N-alkylbenzimidazole and various alkylbromides. These n-butyl-n’-alkylbenzimidazolium bromide salts (alkyl = methyl, ethyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl) 1, 2 and 4–6 were further used as precursors to synthesize silver(I)-NHC complexes, 8, 9 and 11–13, respectively, via in situ deprotonation. In addition, 14 was synthesized from its reported precursor salt, 1-benzyl-3-butylbenzimidazolium bromide (7) through the same procedure. Complex 8 is present as monomeric cation in the form of [NHC-Ag-NHC]PF6, as illustrated by single crystal X-ray crystallography analyses. In order for a full series of antibacterial studies, 1-butyl-3-propylbenzimidazolium bromide, 3, and respective complex, 9, were synthesized according to the reported procedure. All benzimidazolium salts (1–7) and silver(I)-NHC complexes (8–14) were evaluated for antibacterial activities. All benzimidazolium salts show no antibacterial activities while all silver(I)-NHC complexes show lower activities against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 12600) compared to the standard antibiotic drug Amoxicillin. Nevertheless, these mononuclear silver(I)-NHC complexes show lower antibacterial activities compared to the reported dinuclear silver(I)-NHC complexes with the same substituents in the ligands. Graphic abstract