Heptanuclear zinc(II) complex with metronidazoleModec, Barbara (Avtor) Podjed Rihtaršič, Nina (Avtor) Hrast Rambaher, Martina (Avtor) Golob, Majda (Avtor) Zinc(II)Zn$_4$(μ$_4$-O) entityheptanuclear coremetronidazolecrystal structureantibacterial activityThe reaction systems consisting of mononuclear zinc(II) acetate dihydrate, metronidazole (met) and nitrile solvent (acetonitrile or propionitrile) have afforded heptanuclear zinc(II) compounds, [Zn$_7$O$_2$(CH$_3$COO)$_{10}$(met)$_2$]∙2CH$_3$CN (1) and [Zn$_7$O$_2$(CH$_3$COO)$_{10}$(met)$_2$]∙2CH$_3$CH$_2$CN (2). Heptanuclear compounds 1 and 2 formed regardless of the reaction conditions: either under ambient conditions or when heated at 105 °C for 24 h in autoclaves. Their compositions were authenticated using single crystal X-ray crystallography. Both compounds feature the previously known {Zn$_7$O$_2$(CH$_3$COO)$_{10}$} structural core whose metal ions are interconnected via acetate and μ$_4$-oxide ligands. Two metronidazole ligands are coordinated to this core via imidazole nitrogen atoms. The zinc ions of the heptanuclear complex adopt different coordination environments: four are in nearly tetrahedral environments of four oxygen atoms, two are surrounded by NO$_4$ donor atoms which define vertices of a distorted square pyramid and one is in an octahedral environment of six oxygen atoms. The Znsingle bondO bonding patterns reflect both the nature and the number of donors. The solid-state structures of 1 and 2 display different intermolecular connectivities. Antibacterial testing against a series of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria shows that [Zn$_7$O$_2$(CH$_3$COO)$_{10}$(met)$_2$]∙2CH$_3$CN (1) exhibits moderate activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Overall, the study advances the field of metal-based antimicrobial agents and offers new perspectives on addressing antibiotic resistance.20262026-04-10 09:51:02Članek v reviji181550sl