Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial studies of some new tellurated azo compounds

Abstract

A series of tellurated azo compounds [i.e. (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)TeBr3 and (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)2TeBr2, where Ar=5-BrC6H3, 5-CH3C6H3 and 5-NO2C6H3] were prepared by the reaction of the corresponding 2-(4-hydroxyphenylazo)aryl mercury chloride with tellurium tetrabromide in 1:1 and 2:1 mole ratio, respectively in dry dioxane as a solvent. The reduction of (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)TeBr3 by hydrazine hydrate gave the corresponding ditelluride (i.e., (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)2Te2). Treatment of (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)2TeBr2 with hydrazine hydrate afforded the corresponding tellurides, (4-HOC6H4N=N-Ar)2Te), in good yields. The structures of all newly synthesized compounds were assigned on the basis of their elemental and spectroscopic data. The antibacterial activity of tellurated azo compounds along with mercurated azo compounds was tested with agar diffusion method against the bacteria strains Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The antibacterial activities of tellurated azo compounds were in some cases equal or better than those of the reference drug. The mercurated azo compounds were found to be the more antibacterial activity of than those of tellurated azo compounds.