Chemiluminescence of indole and its derivatives induced by electrogenerated superoxide ion in acetonitrile solutions

Electrochemical behavior of the dioxygen (O₂)/superoxide ion (O₂ ⁻) redox couple in acetonitrile (AN) solutions containing indole compounds and no proton acceptor, and their chemiluminescence have been examined using spectroelectrochemical techniques. In AN solutions, in the presence of indole compounds having a substituent at the N-position (e.g. 1-methylindole and 1,2-dimethylindole), these indole compounds did not work as a proton donor to electrogenerated O₂ ⁻, and did not affect the redox reaction of the O₂/O₂ ⁻ couple. On the other hand, the indole compounds bearing a hydrogen at the N-position (e.g. indole, 3-methylindole (3-MI), tryptamine (TP), 3-indolemethanol and 3-indoleacetic acid) acted as a proton donor to O₂ ⁻. In addition, chemiluminescence was observed for some of the indole compounds having a hydrogen at the N-position and an electron-releasing group at the 3-position (i.e. TP, 2,3-dimethylindole, 2-(3-indole)-ethanol and 3-MI). The intensity of chemiluminescence of 3-MI was by far the strongest among those of the above four compounds. The chemiluminescent reaction of the indole compounds seemed to have close connection with electrogeneration of O₂ ⁻, which functioned as a proton acceptor to the indole compounds, and the chemical stability of a radical species (i.e. a one-electron oxidized form of conjugate base of indole compounds) due to the substituent which is present at the 3-position. The chemiluminescence was considered to occur via the formation of 1,2-dioxetane-like intermediates. The reaction mechanisms of chemiluminescence based on the electrogenerated O₂ ⁻ were briefly discussed.     

An enzyme catalyzing O-prenylation of the glucose moiety of fusicoccin A, a diterpene glucoside produced by the fungus Phomopsis amygdali

Isoprenoids form the largest family of compounds found in nature. Isoprenoids are often attached to other moieties such as aromatic compounds, indoles/tryptophan, and flavonoids. These reactions are catalyzed by three phylogenetically distinct prenyltransferases: soluble aromatic prenyltransferases identified mainly in actinobacteria, soluble indole prenyltransferases mostly in fungi, and membrane‐bound prenyltransferases in various organisms. Fusicoccin A (FC A) is a diterpene glycoside produced by the plant‐pathogenic fungus Phomopsis amygdali and has a unique O‐prenylated glucose moiety. In this study, we identified for the first time, from a genome database of P. amygdali, a gene (papt) encoding a prenyltransferase that reversibly transfers dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) to the 6′‐hydroxy group of the glucose moiety of FC A to yield an O‐prenylated sugar. An in vitro assay with a recombinant enzyme was also developed. Detailed analyses with recombinant PAPT showed that the enzyme is likely to be a monomer and requires no divalent cations. The optimum pH and temperature were 8.0 and 50 °C, respectively. K_m values were calculated as 0.49±0.037 μM for FC P (a plausible intermediate of FC A biosynthesis) and 8.3±0.63 μM for DMAPP, with a k_cat of 55.3±3.3×10^?3 s. The enzyme did not act on representative substrates of the above‐mentioned three types of prenyltransferase, but showed a weak transfer activity of geranyl diphosphate to FC P.     

Fermentative Production of Halogenated Tryptophan Derivatives with Corynebacterium glutamicum Overexpressing Tryptophanase or Decarboxylase Genes

The aromatic amino acid l -tryptophan serves as a precursor for many valuable compounds such as neuromodulators, indoleamines and indole alkaloids. In this work, tryptophan biosynthesis was extended by halogenation followed by decarboxylation to the respective tryptamines or cleavage to the respective indoles. Either the tryptophanase genes tnaAs from E. coli and Proteus vulgaris or the aromatic amino acid decarboxylase genes AADCs from Bacillus atrophaeus, Clostridium sporogenes, and Ruminococcus gnavus were expressed in Corynebacterium glutamicum strains producing (halogenated) tryptophan. Regarding indoles, final titers of 16 mg L⁻¹ 7-Cl-indole and 23 mg L⁻¹ 7-Br-indole were attained. Tryptamine production led to a much higher titer of 2.26 g L⁻¹ upon expression of AADC from B. atrophaeus. AADC enzymes were shown to be active with halogenated tryptophan in vitro and in vivo and supported production of 0.36 g L⁻¹ 7-Br-tryptamine with a volumetric productivity of 8.3 mg L⁻¹ h⁻¹ in a fed-batch fermentation.     

Deep extractive desulfurization of oil over 12-molibdophosphoric acid encapsulated in metal-organic frameworks

A desulfurization process for model oil and real oil was investigated based on the chemical oxidation of mixed sulfur containing compounds in the presence of nitrogen compounds (indole and quinoline) using hydrogen peroxide as oxidizing agent and dodecamolibdophosphoric acid (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) encapsulated in a kind of metal-organic framework (HKUST-1) as PMo@HKUST-1. The effect of isopropanol, ethanol and acetonitrile as extractive solvent and 1-ring (toluene, xylene and mesitylene) and 2-ring (naphthalene) aromatic hydrocarbons in desulfurization of model oil was studied. The desulfurization of sulfur-containing compounds was accelerated in the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons. In fact, a higher desulfurization efficiency of the heterogeneous catalyst could be achieved with system containing a polar solvent in contact with an aromatic hydrocarbon. Quinoline had no effect on oxidative desulfurization (ODS) reaction, whereas indole had a slightly negative effect. Presence of aromatic compounds had slightly positive effect on ODS reaction.     

Bisnaphthalimidopropyl Derivatives as Inhibitors of Leishmania SIR2 Related Protein 1

The NAD⁺‐dependent deacetylases, namely sirtuins, are involved in the regulation of a variety of biological processes such as gene silencing, DNA repair, longevity, metabolism, apoptosis, and development. An enzyme from the parasite Leishmania infantum that belongs to this family, LiSIR2RP1, is a NAD⁺‐dependent tubulin deacetylase and an ADP‐ribosyltransferase. This enzyme's involvement in L. infantum virulence and survival underscores its potential as a drug target. Our search for selective inhibitors of LiSIR2RP1 has led, for the first time, to the identification of the antiparasitic and anticancer bisnaphthalimidopropyl (BNIP) alkyl di‐ and triamines (IC₅₀ values in the single‐digit micromolar range for the most potent compounds). Structure–activity studies were conducted with 12 BNIP derivatives that differ in the length of the central alkyl chain, which links the two naphthalimidopropyl moieties. The most active and selective compound is the BNIP diaminononane (BNIPDanon), with IC₅₀ values of 5.7 and 97.4 μM against the parasite and human forms (SIRT1) of the enzyme, respectively. Furthermore, this compound is an NAD⁺‐competitive inhibitor that interacts differently with the parasite and human enzymes, as determined by docking analysis, which might explain its selectivity toward the parasitic enzyme.     

A molecularly imprinted polymer as artificial receptor for the detection of indole‐3‐carbinol

Molecularly imprinting polymer technology is used to prepare a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective recognition of indole‐3‐carbinol (I3C), a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic phytochemical associated with the anticancer activities of cruciferous vegetables. Prepolymerization study via nuclear magnetic resonance technique is done to choose the best functional monomer that establishes more interaction with the template. The prepared MIP is tested before in batch experiments and subsequently used as solid‐phase extraction sorbent for the selective detection of I3C from standard solutions. In order to verify the selectivity of the MIP, the binding of structurally related compounds, such as indole‐3‐acetonitrile, teophylline, and tryptophan, on the polymer is investigated. The experiments indicate that the MIP is highly selective for I3C with an association constant of K_a = (1.37 ± 0.07) × 10³ M^?1. Standard mixture solution loaded on MIP‐SPE cartridge give a recovery of 95% for I3C, while the other compounds are totally eluted during washing step. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40819.     

Tungsten-mediated synthesis of triazafluorenes

Reaction of 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde with aliphatic 1,2-diamines in aqueous/ethanolic solution mediated by [W(CN)₄O₂]⁴⁻ affords the cationic disubstituted triazafluorenes in good yields. Single-crystal X-ray analysis of 4,9-bis(2-pyridyl)-4a,9a-dihydro-3H,9H-3,8a,9a-triazafluorenium hexafluorophosphate salt 1 reveals the formation of a novel heterocyclic tricycle, triaza analogue of fluorene. The identity and purity of the compounds have been verified with elemental analysis as well as IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, UV–Vis, Raman and cyclic voltammetry measurements. Aliphatic 1,3- and 1,4-diamines as well as cycloaliphatic and aromatic ones are not reactive. The proposed pathway for the tungsten-mediated formation of triazafluorenes is discussed.     

Biochemical Investigations of Two 6‐DMATS Enzymes from Streptomyces Reveal New Features of L‐Tryptophan Prenyltransferases

Two putative prenyltransferase genes, SAML0654 and Strvi8510, were identified in Streptomyces ambofaciens and Streptomyces violaceusniger, respectively. Their deduced products share 63 % sequence identity. Biochemical investigations with recombinant proteins demonstrated that L ‐tryptophan and derivatives, including D ‐tryptophan, 4‐, 5‐, 6‐ and 7‐methyl‐dl ‐tryptophan, were well accepted by both enzymes in the presence of DMAPP. Structural elucidation of the isolated products revealed regiospecific prenylation at C‐6 of the indole ring and proved unequivocally the identification of two very similar 6‐dimethylallyltryptophan synthases (6‐DMATS). Detailed biochemical investigations with SAML0654 proved L ‐tryptophan to be the best substrate (K_m 18 μm, turnover 0.3 s^?1). Incubation with different prenyl donors showed that they also accepted GPP and catalyzed the same specific prenylation. Utilizing GPP as a prenyl donor has not been reported for tryptophan prenyltransferases previously. Both enzymes also catalyzed prenylation of some hydroxynaphthalenes; this has not previously been described for bacterial indole prenyltransferases. Interestingly, SAML0654 transferred prenyl moieties onto the unsubstituted ring of hydroxynaphthalenes.     

Unique Versatility of Ionic Liquids as Clean Decarboxylation Catalyst Cum Solvent: A Metal‐ and Quinoline‐Free Paradigm towards Synthesis of Indoles,Styrenes, Stilbenes and Arene Derivatives under Microwave Irradiation in Aqueous Conditions

Ionic liquids have been found to provide a new platform for metal‐ and quinoline‐free decarboxylation of various N‐heteroaryl and aryl carboxylic acids under microwave irradiation in aqueous condition. The method was found to possess a wide substrate scope towards the synthesis of various pharmacologically and industrially important aromatic compounds including indoles, styrenes, stilbenes, and nitro‐ or hydroxyarene derivatives. The decarboxylation of indole and α‐phenylcinnamic acids proceeded well without addition of any catalyst in neat 1‐hexyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide ([hmim]Br) and 1‐methylimidazolium p‐toluenesulfonic acid ([Hmim]PTSA), respectively, while addition of a mild base like aqueous sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO₃) to [hmim]Br further improved the decarboxylation of hydroxylated cinnamic and aromatic acid substrates. The developed methodology not only precludes the usage of toxic metal/quinoline and harsh organic bases but also offers several inherent benefits like recyclability of reagent system, reduction in waste and hazards, short reaction time besides ease of product recovery.     

Synthesis and Theoretical Study of New Guanylated Cyclophosphazenes and Their Use in the CO2 Fixation into Styrene Carbonate

Three new guanylated cyclophosphazenes G1–G3 have been synthesized through the catalytic guanylation of three different bi, tetra and hexa (p-aminophenoxy)-cyclophosphazenes by using N,N’-diisopropylcarbodiimide as guanylating agent, ZnEt₂ as catalyst and dry tetrahydrofuran as solvent. The resulting products have been characterized by ¹H, ¹³C{¹H} and ³¹P{¹H} NMR spectroscopy. The hexaguanylated cyclophosphazenes exhibit a deep purple colour, unusual for this type of compounds. The electronic structure of these compounds was investigated by carrying out density functional calculations at PBE-D3(BJ)/TZP level of theory. The molecular structural analysis reveals that aromatic rings are stacked and time dependent density functional calculations show that a charge transfer electronic transition occurs between the aromatic rings which absorb light around 500–700 nm. Finally, the catalytic usefulness of guanylated cyclophosphazene compounds G1–G3 has been proven by the preparation of styrene carbonate from the reaction between styrene oxide and carbon dioxide.

     

Design, ‘one-pot’ synthesis,characterization, antibacterial and antifungal activities of novel 6-aryl-1,2,4,5-tetrazinan-3-thiones in dry media

A novel ‘one-pot’ synthesis of 6-aryl-1,2,4,5-tetrazinan-3-thiones is carried out by the three-component coupling of thiourea, various structurally diverse aromatic aldehydes and ammonium acetate in the presence of reusable NaHSO₄·SiO₂ heterogeneous catalyst in dry media under microwave irradiation. FT-IR, ¹H NMR, D₂O Exchange, HOMOCOR, ¹³C NMR, MS and elemental analysis characterize all the synthesized compounds. In vitro antibacterial/fungal activities are carried out for all the synthesized eight new compounds. All the compounds are more active against bacterial strains namely Staphylococcus aureus, β-Heamolytic streptococcus, Vibreo cholerae, Salmonella typhii, Shigella felxneri, Klebsiella pneumonia and Pseudomonas except compounds 1 and 6, while compound 6 shows promising activity against Salmonella typhii. Moreover, of all the compounds tested, compounds 3 and 8 are more effectual against all the tested fungal strains.     

Polymerization of propynes bearing diphenylamino or indolyl groups

Summary Nitrogen-containing acetylenic monomers including 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)-1-propyne (DPAP), N-(2-propynyl)indole (PI), 2-methyl-N-(2-propynyl)indole (2-MePI) and 3-methyl-N-(2-propynyl)indole (3-MePI) polymerized in the presence of various transition metal catalysts. Poly(DPAP) was obtained with WCl₆, MoCl₅, Rh and Fe catalysts, and its weight-average molecular weights (M _w) reached 140x10³. Polymerization of PI and 2-MePI by Rh and Fe catalysts gave good yields of high molecular weight polymers with M _w of 340x10³ and 640x10³, respectively. Polymerization of 3-MePI by WCl₆- and MoCl₅-based catalysts resulted in a soluble polymer (M_w= 52x10³), whereas the use of Rh and Fe catalysts led to the formation of an insoluble polymer. All the polymers exhibited cutoff wavelengths around 450–500 nm, meaning the moderate to fair conjugation along the polymer backbones. Received: 24 June 1998/Accepted: 5 August 1998     

Rational Design,Synthesis, and Potency of N‐Substituted Indoles,Pyrroles, and Triarylpyrazoles as Potential Fructose 1,6‐Bisphosphatase Inhibitors

By using computer modeling and lead structures from our earlier SAR results, a broad variety of pyrrole‐, indole‐, and pyrazole‐based compounds were evaluated as potential fructose 1,6‐bisphosphatase (FBPase) inhibitors. The docking studies yielded promising structures, and several were selected for synthesis and FBPase inhibition assays: 1‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzoyl]‐1H‐indole‐5‐carboxamide, 1‐(α‐naphthalen‐1‐ylsulfonyl)‐7‐nitro‐1H‐indole, 5‐(4‐carboxyphenyl)‐3‐phenyl‐1‐[3‐(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]‐1H‐pyrazole, 1‐(4‐carboxyphenylsulfonyl)‐1H‐pyrrole, and 1‐(4‐carbomethoxyphenylsulfonyl)‐1H‐pyrrole were synthesized and tested for inhibition of FBPase. The IC₅₀ values were determined to be 0.991 and 1.34 μM , and 575, 135, and 32 nM , respectively. The tested compounds were significantly more potent than the natural inhibitor AMP (4.0 μM ) by an order of magnitude; indeed, the best inhibitor showed an IC₅₀ value toward FBPase more than two orders of magnitude better than that of AMP. This level of activity is virtually the same as that of the best currently known FBPase inhibitors. This work shows that such indole derivatives are promising candidates for drug development in the treatment of type II diabetes.     

Structure-activity relationship refinement and further assessment of indole-3-glyoxylamides as a lead series against prion disease

Structure–activity relationships within the indole‐3‐glyoxylamide series of antiprion agents have been explored further, resulting in discovery of several new compounds demonstrating excellent activity in a cell line model of prion disease (EC₅₀ <10 nM ). After examining a range of substituents at the para‐position of the N‐phenylglyoxylamide moiety, five‐membered heterocycles containing at least two heteroatoms were found to be optimal for the antiprion effect. A number of modifications were made to probe the importance of the glyoxylamide substructure, although none were well tolerated. The most potent compounds did, however, prove largely stable towards microsomal metabolism, and the most active library member cured scrapie‐infected cells indefinitely on administration of a single treatment. The present results thereby confirm the indole‐3‐glyoxylamides as a promising lead series for continuing in vitro and in vivo evaluation against prion disease.     

Direct Evidence for a Catalytically Active Role of the Hydrocarbon Pool Formed on Zeolite H-ZSM-5 During the Methanol-to-Olefin Conversion

The catalytic role of the hydrocarbon pool formed during the conversion of methanol on zeolite H-ZSM-5 was investigated by in situ MAS NMR spectroscopy under continuous-flow (CF) conditions and by changing of the methanol feed from ¹³CH₃OH to ¹²CH₃OH under steady state conditions. Utilizing this experimental approach, a decrease of the ¹³C CF MAS NMR signals of alkyl groups bound at the olefinic and aromatic skeleton atoms of the hydrocarbon pool by 40% was observed. Simultaneously performed ¹H CF MAS NMR measurements ensured that the total amount of carboneous compounds on the zeolite catalyst was constant during the experiments. The decrease of the number of ¹³C-isotopes of alkyl groups, observed after changing the ¹³C-enrichment of the methanol feed, is the first direct evidence for the side-chain methylation of olefinic and aromatic skeleton carbon atoms as an important pathway of the hydrocarbon pool mechanism for the methanol-to-olefin conversion on acidic zeolites.     

[Carboxyl‐11C]Labelling of Four High‐Affinity cPLA2α Inhibitors and Their Evaluation as Radioligands in Mice by Positron Emission Tomography

Cytosolic phospholipase A2α (cPLA2α) may play a critical role in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders associated with oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. An effective PET radioligand for imaging cPLA2α in living brain might prove useful for biomedical research, especially on neuroinflammation. We selected four high‐affinity (IC₅₀ 2.1–12 nm ) indole‐5‐carboxylic acid‐based inhibitors of cPLA2α, namely 3‐isobutyryl‐1‐(2‐oxo‐3‐(4‐phenoxyphenoxy)propyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carboxylic acid ( 1 ); 3‐acetyl‐1‐(2‐oxo‐3‐(4‐(4‐(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)phenoxy)propyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carboxylic acid ( 2 ); 3‐(3‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐1‐(2‐oxo‐3‐(4‐phenoxyphenoxy)propyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carboxylic acid ( 3 ); and 3‐(3‐methyl‐1,2,4‐oxadiazol‐5‐yl)‐1‐(3‐(4‐octylphenoxy)‐2‐oxopropyl)‐1H‐indole‐5‐carboxylic acid ( 4 ), for labelling in carboxyl position with carbon‐11 (t_1/2=20.4 min) to provide candidate PET radioligands for imaging brain cPLA2α. Compounds [¹¹C] 1 – 4 were obtained for intravenous injection in adequate overall yields (1.1–5.5 %) from cyclotron‐produced [¹¹C]carbon dioxide and with moderate molar activities (70–141 GBq μmol^?1) through the use of Pd⁰‐mediated [¹¹C]carbon monoxide insertion on iodo precursors. Measured logD_7.4 values were within a narrow moderate range (1.9–2.4). After intravenous injection of [¹¹C] 1 – 4 in mice, radioactivity uptakes in brain peaked at low values (≤0.8 SUV) and decreased by about 90 % over 15 min. Pretreatments of the mice with high doses of the corresponding non‐radioactive ligands did not alter brain time–activity curves. Brain uptakes of radioactivity after administration of [¹¹C] 1 to wild‐type and P‐gp/BCRP dual knock‐out mice were similar (peak 0.4 vs. 0.5 SUV), indicating that [¹¹C] 1 and others in this structural class, are not substrates for efflux transporters.     

On the use of infrared spectroscopy in the study of carbon dioxide decomposition on copper containing methanol synthesis catalysts

A novel and convenient procedure for the catalytic acylation of a series of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, xylenes (o-, m-, p-), mesitylene, isopropylbenzene and N,N-dimethylaniline to the corresponding ketones using medium- and large-pore zeolites as catalyst and acetic acid or acetyl chloride as acylating agent at different reaction temperatures in a tubular reactor is demonstrated for the first time. The H-ZSM5 and H-beta zeolite catalysts exhibited the higher turnover rates (TOF× 10^-3 s^-1 mol^-1 Al) for the acetic acid or acetyl chloride conversion to the products. In some cases, nearly total conversion of acylating agent with very high selectivity to the para product is achieved. It is found that the reactivity of the aromatic compounds increases with the increase of -CH₃ groups in the benzene ring. Mechanistically, it is assumed that an active species (CH₃CO⁺) is generated catalytically from the acylating agent by an acidic zeolite which attacks the aromatic ring and produces corresponding aromatic ketones.     

A Tandem Enzymatic sp2‐C‐Methylation Process: Coupling in Situ S‐Adenosyl‐l‐Methionine Formation with Methyl Transfer

A one‐pot, two‐step biocatalytic platform for the regiospecfic C‐methylation and C‐ethylation of aromatic substrates is described. The tandem process utilises SalL (Salinospora tropica) for in situ synthesis of S‐adenosyl‐l ‐methionine (SAM), followed by alkylation of aromatic substrates by the C‐methyltransferase NovO (Streptomyces spheroides). The application of this methodology is demonstrated for the regiospecific labelling of aromatic substrates by the transfer of methyl, ethyl and isotopically labelled ¹³CH_3, ¹³CD₃ and CD₃ groups from their corresponding SAM analogues formed in situ.     

Distribution coefficients and diffusivities in three polymers for nineteen aqueous nonvolatile solutes

Experimental results at 25°C are reported for infinite‐dilution distribution coefficients for 19 nonvolatile solutes between aqueous solution and three kinds of polymer films, and for their diffusion coefficients in the polymer matrix. The experiments were performed by coupling UV spectroscopy and gravimetric measurements with mass balances. The solutes are aromatic nonvolatile compounds that are of interest in environmental technology and may serve as model compounds for drug‐delivery systems. The polymers are ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymers with 33 (EVAc33) and 45 (EVAc45) weight percentage vinyl acetate, and poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) widely used in drug‐delivery devices. For PVAc, a long time is required to reach equilibrium. Because the required time is too long for reasonable experimental studies, equilibrium distribution coefficients were calculated from finite‐time data by using a diffusion model. The contribution of surface adsorption is shown to be negligible. Infinite‐dilution distribution coefficients K_s, defined as the volume fraction of solute in the polymer divided by that in water, tend to increase with vinyl acetate content; they range from near unity to several hundred. Diffusion coefficients, determined from time‐dependent sorption data, are significantly larger in EVAc copolymers (10^?10 to 10^?8 cm²/s) than in PVAc (10^?12 cm²/s). These data may be useful for design of membrane processes, for controlled delivery of drugs, and for application in packaging and storage of food, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 85: 2041–2052, 2002     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Chromium Bioorganometallics Based on the Antibiotic Platensimycin Lead Structure

The recent discovery of the natural product platensimycin as a new antibiotic lead structure has triggered the synthesis of numerous organic derivatives for structure–activity relationship studies. Herein, we describe the synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of the first organometallic antibiotic inspired by platensimycin. Two bioorganometallic compounds containing (η⁶‐pentamethylbenzene)Cr(CO)₃ ( 2 ) and (η⁶‐benzene)Cr(CO)₃ ( 3 ), linked by an amide bond to the aromatic part of platensimycin, were synthesized. Their antibiotic activities were tested against B. subtilis 168 (Gram positive) and E. coli W3110 (Gram negative) bacterial strains. Both compounds were found to be inactive against E. coli but derivative 2 inhibits B. subtilis growth at a moderate MIC value of 0.15 mM . To test the intrinsic toxicity of chromium, several chromium salts along with {η⁶‐(3‐pentamethylphenyl propionic acid)}Cr(CO)₃ ( 5 ) and {η⁶‐(3‐phenyl propionic acid)}Cr(CO)₃ ( 6 ) were tested against both bacterial strains. No activity was observed against E. coli for any of the compounds; B. subtilis growth was not inhibited by Cr(NO₃)₃ and only very weakly by 5 , K₂Cr₂O₇ and Na₂CrO₄ at MIC values of 0.5, 0.68 and 1.24 mM , respectively. Compounds 2 , 3 , 5 and 4 (the pure organic analogue of 2 ) show similar cytotoxicity against HeLa, HepG2 and HT‐29 mammalian cell lines. Furthermore, the cellular uptake and the intracellular distribution of compounds 2 , 3 and Cr(NO₃)₃ in B. subtilis were studied using atomic absorption spectroscopy to gain insight in to the possible cellular targets. Compound 2 was found to be readily taken up and distributed almost equally among cytosol, cell debris and cell membrane in B. subtilis.