Synthetic, spectroscopic and antimicrobial studies of bis(dialkyldithiocarbamato)diorganodithiophosphatobismuth(III) complexes

Bioactive Bismuth Compounds: Is Their Toxicity a Barrier to Therapeutic Use?

Bismuth compounds are considered relatively non-toxic, with their low solubility in aqueous solutions (e.g., biological fluids) being the major contributing factor to this property. Bismuth derivatives are widely used for the treatment of peptic ulcers, functional dyspepsia, and chronic gastritis. Moreover, the properties of bismuth compounds have also been extensively explored in two main fields of action: antimicrobial and anticancer. Despite the clinical interest of bismuth-based drugs, several side effects have also been reported. In fact, excessive acute ingestion of bismuth, or abuse for an extended period of time, can lead to toxicity. However, evidence has demonstrated that the discontinuation of these compounds usually reverses their toxic effects. Notwithstanding, the continuously growing use of bismuth products suggests that it is indeed part of our environment and our daily lives, which urges a more in-depth review and investigation into its possible undesired activities. Therefore, this review aims to update the pharmaco-toxicological properties of bismuth compounds. A special focus will be given to in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies exploring their toxicity.

Biological Activities of Bismuth Compounds: An Overview of the New Findings and the Old Challenges Not Yet Overcome

Bismuth-based drugs have been used primarily to treat ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori and other gastrointestinal ailments. Combined with antibiotics, these drugs also possess synergistic activity, making them ideal for multiple therapy regimens and overcoming bacterial resistance. Compounds based on bismuth have a low cost, are safe for human use, and some of them are also effective against tumoral cells, leishmaniasis, fungi, and viruses. However, these compounds have limited bioavailability in physiological environments. As a result, there is a growing interest in developing new bismuth compounds and approaches to overcome this challenge. Considering the beneficial properties of bismuth and the importance of discovering new drugs, this review focused on the last decade's updates involving bismuth compounds, especially those with potent activity and low toxicity, desirable characteristics for developing new drugs. In addition, bismuth-based compounds with dual activity were also highlighted, as well as their modes of action and structure-activity relationship, among other relevant discoveries. In this way, we hope this review provides a fertile ground for rationalizing new bismuth-based drugs.

Structure and properties of two new heteroleptic bismuth(III) dithiocabamates of the general composition Bi(S2CNH2)2X (X = Cl, SCN)

The title compounds were prepared by precipitation from acidic solutions of the reactants in acetone/water. Bi(S2CNH2)2Cl (1) crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric trigonal space group P32 with a = 8.6121(3) and c = 11.1554(4) Å, Z = 3; Bi(S2NH2)2SCN (2) in P21/c (monoclinic) with a = 5.5600(2), b = 14.3679(5), c = 12.8665(4) Å, and β = 90.37(3)°. In the crystal structure of 1 Bi3+ is in a sevenfold coordination of two bidentate and one monodentate S2CHNH2 − anions with an asymmetric coordination pattern of five Bi–S and two Bi–Cl− bonds. The linkage of these polyhedra via common Cl–S edges leads to a 1D polymeric structure with undulated chains propagating in the direction [001]. These chains are linked by strong and medium strong hydrogen bonds forming the 3D crystal structure. In the crystal structure of 2 the Bi3+ cation is in an eightfold coordination. The polyhedron can be described as a significantly distorted tetragonal anti-prism, capped by an additional S atom. Two of these prisms share a common quadrilateral face to form a “prism-double” (Bi2S10N2). These building units are linked by common edges, and the resulting 1D infinite angulated chains propagate along [100]. By contrast to organo-dithiocarbamate compounds, where C–H···X bridges are dominant, the interchain connections in the crystal structures of 1 and 2 are formed exclusively via N–H···S, N–H···Cl, and N–H···N interactions, generating the 3D networks. A significant eccentricity of the Bi3+ cation in the crystal structures of both complexes is observed. Both compounds emit light in the orange range of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Bismuth compounds in medicinal chemistry

In recent years, the chemical potential of bismuth and bismuth compounds has been actively exploited. Bismuth salts are known for their low toxicity, making them potential valuable reagents for large-scale synthesis, which becomes more obvious when dealing with products such as active pharmaceutical ingredients or synthetic intermediates. Conversely, bismuth compounds have been widely used in medicine. After extensive use in the treatments of syphilis and other bacterial infections before the advent of modern antibiotics, bismuth compounds remain important for the treatment of several gastrointestinal disorders and also exhibit antimicrobial properties and cytotoxic activity, among others. This review updates relevant advances in the past few years, concerning the application of bismuth reagents and catalysts in innovative synthetic processes for the preparation of compounds of medicinal interest, as well as the preparation, biological evaluation and potential medicinal uses of bismuth compounds.

Synthesis and characterization of toluene-3,4-dithiolatoantimony(III) derivatives with some oxygen and/or sulphur donor ligands

Replacement reactions of toluene-3,4-dithiolatoantimony(III) chloride with oxygen and/or sulphur donor ligands like benzoic acid, thiobenzoic acid, thioacetic acid, phenol, thiophenol, sodium salicylate and thio glycolic acid in 1:1 molar ratio as well as disodium oxalate in 2:1 molar ratio in refluxing anhydrous benzene yielded toluene-3,4-dithiolatoantimony(III) mono oxo and/or thio carboxylic or phenolic derivatives of the general formula {R=OOCC(6)H(5), SOCC(6)H(5), SOCCH(3), OC(6)H(5), SC(6)H(5), OOCC(6)H(4)(OH) and SCH(2)COOH} and These newly synthesized derivatives are yellow and brown solids/liquids and are soluble in common organic solvents like benzene, chloroform, dichloromethane, etc. These derivatives have been characterized by melting point determination, molecular weight determination, elemental analysis (C, H, S and Sb), spectral {UV, IR and NMR ((1)H and (13)C)} and thermal (TGA, DTA and DSC) studies.