Physicochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Activity of Mechanochemically and Solvent-Based Synthesized Mn(II) Complexes of Cefixime and Cefuroxime

Mechanochemical and solvent-based complexes of Mn(II) with cefixime and cefuroxime were synthesized and characterized by melting point and conductivity measurements, elemental analysis, FTIR spectral studies, and electronic spectral analysis. The Mn(II) complexes with cefixime and cefuroxime synthesized mechanochemically were both ash colored, while Mn(II) cefixime and cefuroxime complexes synthesized through solvent-based method were milky and ash respectively. The molar conductivity values (14.9 – 16.6 Scm2mol-1) indicate non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The FTIR revealed that the ligands were coordinated to the Mn(II) ion through the carboxylate ions (C=O). A six coordinate octahedral geometry has been proposed for the complexes. The result of the antibacterial assay of the synthesized complexes of Mn(II) with cefuroxime generally showed better activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than the free ligand cefuroxime. Similarly, the Mn(II) complex of cefuroxime synthesized by mechanochemical method shows higher activity against the aforementioned organisms as compared to the solution-based complex which might be as a result of solvent effect.