Organotin(IV) and organolead(IV) complexes as biocides and fertility regulators: synthetic, spectroscopic and biological studies

Biocidal, antifertility and spectroscopic aspects of organotin(IV) and organolead(IV) complexes with amino acids(L) and 2,2-bipyridine(L′) are described with the support of elemental analysis, IR, 1H, 13C, 119Sn and 207Pb NMR spectroscopy. The spectral data suggest that the ligand L acts in a monodentate and ligand L′ in a bidentate manner, coordinating through the nitrogen atoms. The complexes have been characterized on the basis of molecular weight determinations and conductivity measurements. The isolated products are coloured solids, soluble in dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF) and methanol. All the complexes are monomeric in nature, as indicated by their molecular weight determinations. Conductivity measurements in dry DMF show them to be non-electrolytes. The complexes have been screened against a number of fungi and bacteria to assess their growth inhibiting potential. The results are positive. In addition to these studies, the complexes show good antimicrobial properties as compared with their starting materials. The testicular sperm density, sperm morphology, sperm motility, density of cauda epididymis, spermatozoa and fertility in mating trials and the biochemical parameters of the reproductive organs of rats were examined and are discussed in detail. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.