Three new copper complexes of general formula [Cu(HL)Cl2] have been obtained with N(4)-ortho (H2Bz4oT, HL1), N(4)-meta (H2Bz4mT, HL2) and N(4)-para-tolyl-2-benzoylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Bz4pT, HL3), in which the thiosemicarbazone attaches to the metal through the Npy-N-S chelating system. H2Bz4pT (HL3) crystallizes in the P1 space group, with a = 9.509(3) Å, b = 9.807(4) Å, c = 11.564(4) Å; alpha = 100.76(2)°, beta = 105.99(2)°, gamma = 114.59(2)°. The thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes exhibit high antifungal activities against Candida albicans with low values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), in the 8-0.3 µg mL-1 (23 - 0.7 µmol L-1) range for the free bases and in the 1-0.1 µg mL-1 (2 - 0.3 µmol L-1) range for the complexes. Our results suggest that coordination to copper(II) could be an interesting strategy for dose reduction.
thiosemicarbazones; copper(II) complexes; antifungal activity; Candida albicans
