Synthesis and antibacterial activity of pyridylselenium compounds: Self-assembly of bis(3-bromo-2-pyridyl)diselenide via intermolecular secondary and π⋯π stacking interactions

Various pyridylseleniums and their hydrochloride salts have been synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial activities. SEM, TEM and enzyme profiling techniques have been used to investigate the mode of action of these compounds as antibiotics. Single crystal X-ray study of bis(3-bromo-2-pyridyl)diselenide (6b) has also been reported. The molecule 6b displays π⋯π stacking and π⋯Br secondary interactions leading to a supramolecular self-assembly. A search on Cambridge Structural Database was undertaken to identify the π⋯π stacking interactions in various other bis(2-pyridyl)diselenides.