Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of triorganotin 5-nitro-2-furoates

Five triorganotin 5-nitro-2-furoates were synthesized by reacting 5-nitro-2-furoic acid with either the corresponding bis(triorganotin) oxide or the corresponding triorganotin hydroxide. The IR spectrum of each compound was obtained over the 4000--200-cm-1 range, and some of the bands were assigned. One compound, tri-n-butyltin 5-nitro-2-furoate, was an excellent antifungal agent, completely inhibiting the growth of six of ten test fungi at a concentration of 1 microgram/ml. The new compounds were also investigated for antibacterial activity and were especially inhibitory toward Gram-positive species. Two of the compounds completely inhibited the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli at a concentration of 100 microgram/ml.