A complex of ceftriaxone with Pb(II): synthesis, characterization, and antibacterial activity study

<div><p>A Pb(II) complex with ceftriaxone (H₂Ceftria) antibiotic was synthesized by reaction of ceftriaxone disodium salt (hemi)heptahydrate with lead nitrate in water–ethanol medium. The complex was characterized on the basis of complexometric titration, spectrophotometric and thermogravimetric analyses, capillary electrophoresis, IR, Raman and UV–vis spectroscopies, and density functional theory calculations. Pb(II) is five-coordinate with distorted square pyramidal geometry. The coordination of Ceftria²⁻ to Pb(II) occurs through N and O of the triazine, lactam carbonyl, carboxylate, and amine groups. The antibacterial activity study showed that <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> is resistant to [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H₂O. The antibacterial activity of [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H₂O against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> is reduced compared with ceftriaxone. In contrast, the antibacterial activity of [Pb(Ceftria)]·3H₂O against <i>Escherichia coli</i> is 28% higher than that of ceftriaxone antibiotic.</p></div