Furoate Based Functionalised Ionic Liquid: Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Studies

A tetraalkyl ammonium cation and furoate anion based functionalised ionic liquid (FIL), N-methyl-N,N,N-trioctylam- monium furoate ([MTOA]þ[FA]– ) has been synthesised and characterised using FT-IR, NMR, and UV spectroscopic techniques. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesised FIL against two types of Gram-positive bacteria, namely Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter faecalis as well as Gram-negative bacteria, namely Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was tested using a well diffusion method. Similarly, an antifungal test was done againstCandida
albicans. [MTOA]þ[FA]– showed significant inhibitory effect against all the organisms tested as compared with the
chosen standards. Antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria (zone of inhibition: 16 to 30 mm) was found to be higher than that of Gram-negative bacteria (zone of inhibition: 11 to 19 mm). Moreover, the antioxidant activity of the synthesised FIL from a ferrous ion (Fe2þ) chelating assay and its scavenging activity against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhy- drazyl, H2O2, and 2,20 -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) free radical using spectrophotometric methods are reported. The FIL, [MTOA]þ[FA]– showed a moderate antioxidant activity.