Synthesis , Molecular Structure and Antibacterial Activity of 1-( 4-Methoxybenzaldehyde )-4-Methylthiosemicarbazone

A novel ligand, 1-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-methylthiosemicarbazone (MBT) derived from 4-methoxybenzaldehyde was synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, H NMR, C NMR), single crystal X-ray diffraction technique and physical means. MBT showed antibacterial activity in vitro with MICs of 64 μg/mL (a strain of Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539)), 128 μg/mL (Salmonella typhi), 64 μg/mL (Salmonella paratyphi A), 128 μg/mL (Salmonella paratyphi B) and 64 μg/mL (Salmonella typhimurium). The results showed that MBT demonstrated moderate in vitro antibacterial activity against a strain of Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539), Salmonella paratyphi A, and Salmonella typhimurium, indicating its promise as a possible lead for the discovery of antibacterial drugs.

Typhoid, paratyphoid A and B fevers are caused by Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella paratyphi B respectively [16].Typhoid fever continues to pose a marked public health problem in developing countries, where it is endemic [17].In addition to these currently used expensive antibiotics, cases of resistance have been encountered with some strains of these bacteria [18].We therefore tested our compound on these bacterial strains.

Synthesis of 1-(4-Methoxybenzylidene)-4-Methylthiosemicarbazone (MBT)
A sample of 4-methylthiosemicarbazide (210 mg, 0.002 mol) dissolved in 15 ml ethanol was added to a solution of 4-methoxybenzaldehyde (0.28 mL, 0.002 mol).Five (05) drops of glacial acetic acid were added to the mixture (Scheme 1).The reaction mixture was allowed to reflux for 6 hours at a temperature of 70˚C.The clear solution which was allowed to cool, formed suitable crystals which were filtered and washed several times with ethanol for X-ray diffraction studies.

Single Crystal X-Ray Diffraction Analysis and Structure Determination
This was performed using standard procedures as reported by Nfor et al. [19].
Briefly, suitable-single crystal of MBT was mounted in air unto a loop.The data collection for MBT was carried out with a Bruker DUO APEX II CCD diffractometer at temperature controlled using an Oxford cryostream-700.Data reduction and cell refinement were performed using SAINT-Plus, and the space group was determined from systematic absences by XPREP and further justified by the refinement results.Graphite monchromated MoKα (λ = 0.71073 Å) radiation was used.The X-ray diffraction data have corrected for Lorentz-polarization factor and scaled for absorption effects by multi-scan using SADABS.The structure was solved by direct method, implemented in SHELXS-97.Refinement procedure by full-matrix least-square method based on F 2 values against reflections have been performed by SHELX-97, including anisotropic displacement parameters for all non-H atoms.The positions of hydrogen atoms belonging to the carbon atoms were geometrically optimized by applying a riding model.
CCDC 1556045 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper.
Calculations concerning the molecular geometry, the affirmation of chosen space groups and the analysis of hydrogen bonds were performed with PLATON.
The molecular graphic was done with ORTEP-3 and Mercury (version 3.0).

Test Bacteria and Culture Media
The test microorganisms, including Salmonella typhi (ST), Salmonella paratyphi A (SPA), Salmonella paratyphi B (SPB), Salmonella typhimurium (STM) isolates were obtained from Pasteur Centre, Yaoundé, Cameroon.One strain of Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539) obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) was also used.The culture media used, namely Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SSA) and Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) were manufactured by Accu-mixTM (Belgium).SSA was used for the activation of the bacteria species and for the screening of contaminants from the inoculum.Mueller Hinton Broth (MHB) was used for sensibility (antibacterial) test (Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs)).

Antimicrobial Assay
The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of MBT were determined using International Journal of Organic Chemistry serial microdilution in the rapid p-iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT) (Sigma-Aldrish, St Quentin Fallavier, France) colorimetric assay.The tests were carried out in 96-micro well sterile plates as previously described by Mativandlela et al. [20].For this, MBT was dissolved in DMSO/MHB (v/v, 5%).This solution was then serially introduced in the different well of the microplate, which previously contains 100 μL/well of MHB.One hundred microliters of 10 6 CFU/ml bacterial suspensions prepared in MHB were added to the respective wells.The plates were covered with a sterile plate sealer, then agitated to mix the contents of the wells using a shaker, and incubated at 37˚C for 18 h.Wells containing MHB, 100 μL of bacterial suspensions and DMSO at a final concentration of 2.5% served as a negative control.Ciprofloxacin was used as reference antibiotics.The MICs of sample were detected after 18 h of incubation at 37˚C, following addition of 40 μL of 0.2 mg/mL INT and incubation at 37˚C for 30 min [21].
Viable bacteria reduced the yellow dye of p-iodonitrotetrazolium to pink.MIC was defined as the lowest sample concentration that prevented this colour change and exhibited inhibition of microbial growth.
The Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) were determined by adding 50 μL aliquots of the preparations (without INT), which did not show any visible colour change after incubation during MIC assays, into 150 μL of fresh Mueller Hinton broth.These preparations were further incubated at 37˚C for 48 h and bacterial growth was revealed by the addition of INT as above.The lowest concentration at which no visible colour change was observed was considered as the MBC.These tests were performed in triplicates at three different occasions.

Elemental Analyses
The elemental analysis for C, H, N and S revealed that the calculated and experimental data for the Schiff base are in good agreement suggesting the high percent purity of the compound.

Infrared Spectrum
The infrared spectrum (Figure S1) was taken in 4000 -400 cm −1 region.Two bands between 3319 and 3157 cm −1 represent stretching frequencies for the two N-H groups.A band at 828 cm −1 indicating the presence of a p-disubstituted benzene ring.Other important bands were observed at 1543 cm −1 (C=N) and 1177 cm −1 (C=S).

1 H NMR Spectrum
The

13 C NMR Spectrum
The 13 C NMR spectrum (Figure S3) of 1-(4-methoxybenzylidene)-4-methylthiosemicarbazone was recorded in CDCl 3 .The most deshielded peak appeared at 178.8 ppm and was attributed to C=S, followed by a peak at 161.6 ppm which was assigned to C=N.Signals for the aromatic carbon atoms were observed in the range, 142.3 -125.9 ppm while the methoxy carbon atom resonated at 55.4 ppm and CH 3 -N appeared at 31.2 ppm.

Single Crystal X-Ray Crystallography
The molecular structure of the Schiff base is shown in Figure 1  The crystal structure of the molecule is in line with the IR, NMR and elemental analysis data of the molecule.The bond distances and angles are listed in Table 1 and are comparable to those reported in the literature for similar compounds [22].The crystal structure refinement data for MBT are listed on Table 2.
The data obtained from this test (Table 3) showed that MBT exhibited the various Salmonella species, with the MIC values ranging from 64 to128 μg/mL.
STs, SPA and STM presented MBCs equal to 128 µg/mL and MBCs/MICs ratio equal to 2.
In fact, according to the criteria described by Kuete [23], activities of isolated product are significant when MIC ≤ 10 μg/mL, moderate when 10 < MIC ≤ 100 μg/mL, weak when MIC > 100 μg/mL.Therefore, MBT is active and possesses moderate inhibitory potential vis-à-vis STs, SPA and STM.Antimicrobial substances are considered as bactericidal agents when the ratio MBC/MIC ≤ 4, and bacteriostatic when the ratio MBC/MIC > 4 [16] [24].For MBT, the ratio MBC/ MIC was <4 against most of the bacteria tested, suggesting that this product may be classified as bactericidal agent against these bacteria.
MBT showed moderate antibacterial in vitro activity with MICs of 64 μg/mL against a strain of Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539), Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella typhimurium and weak activity with MICs of 128 μg/mL against Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi B, indicating its promise as a possible lead for the discovery of antibacterial drugs.International Journal of Organic Chemistry

2. 1 . Materials 4 -
Methoxybenzaldehyde, 4-methylthiosemicarbazide, ethanol and acetic acid were used as purchased without further purification.IR spectrum was obtained from a Perkin-Elmer System 2000 FT-IR spectrophotometer using KBr pellets.NMR spectra were run in CDCl 3 on a 400 MHz spectrometer.Melting point was recorded on a Meltemp II Apparatus and is uncorrected.Elemental analysis was performed on a Thermo Flash EA-1112 Series CHNS-O Elemental Analyzer.Details of X-ray techniques and biological materials are described under their respective sections below.

Figure 1 .
Figure 1.An ORTEP view of the molecule (MBT), with displacement ellipsoids drawn at the 50% probability level.

Table 2 .
Crystal structure refinement data for C 10 H 13 N 3 OS (MBT).