Coordination chemistry for antibacterial materials: A monolayer of a Cu2+ 2,2′-bipyridine complex grafted on a glass surface

A propyltrimethoxysilane-modified 2,2′-bipyridine ligand is synthesized and its acetonitrile solutions are used to prepare monolayers of the molecule on glass surfaces. Absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrate that the modified glass surfaces bind Cu2+ with a 1:1 ratio with respect to the 2,2′-bipyridine moieties under the chosen preparative conditions, producing materials bearing 0.016 μg cm-2 of copper. Although in trace amounts, the bound Cu2+ cations exert a significant microbicidal effect against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2013.