Harnessing the dual antimicrobial mode of action with a lipophilic Mn(II) complex using the principle of the Irving-Williams Series to completely eradicate Staphylococcus aurous.

The judicious selection of 5,7-dibromo-2-methy-8-quinolinol (BQ) as a Mn(II) ionophore results in the synthesis of Mn(BQ)2(DMSO)2·DMSO (1), a potent metalloantibiotic with a dual antimicrobial mode of action against four different strains of Staphylococcus aurous (SA) bacteria (MIC = 0.625 μg mL-1). Additionally, 1 can overcome ciprofloxacin-resistance in methicillin-resistant SA bacteria.