Xylose Incorporated in Unsymmetrical Gold(I) N-Heterocyclic Carbene Complexes: Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity

A series of Au(I) complexes containing unsymmetrical N-heterocyclic carbene (imidazolylidene and benzimidazolylidene) functionalized with a xyloside group and an alkyl moiety (methyl and mesityl) was prepared using efficient procedures from D-xylose. Their characterization was carried out in solution by multinuclear NMR, HR-MS spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry, as well as in the solid state by means of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis for two of them. Evaluation of their ability to inhibit bacterial growth showed a preference for a Gram-positive strain, Staphylococcus aureus, over a Gram-negative strain, Pseudomonas aeruginosa.