Water-soluble silver(I) complexes containing the 4(5)-(hydroxymethyl)imidazole ligand with the formula [Ag(4-CH2OHimH)2]X (where X = NO3−, ClO4−, CF3COO−, BF4− and SO3CH3−) were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by NMR (1H and 13C) and IR spectroscopy, ESI-MS spectrometry and EA. The molecular structures of three complexes were confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The antimicrobial activity of the silver(I) complexes were evaluated against six strains of microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus hauseri and Candida albicans. All tested silver complexes displayed excellent antibacterial properties against Gram-positive bacteria. Among them, the complex containing the trifluoroacetate counter-ion exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, with MIC values 2 to 3-fold lower than that required by silver sulfadiazine.
