The development of new antimicrobial therapeutic agents is one of the fundamental goals in medicinal chemistry. In this field, the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds and of their complexes with metallic ions are two of the leading lines of investigations in both inorganic and organic chemistry. There are a large number of pharmacologically active heterocyclic compounds, many of which are regularly in clinical use.

Scientists have developed a vast arsenal of bioactive agents enabling the successful treatment of a huge variety of diseases, including those caused by bacterial infections. However, over time, the treatment of these ailments is frequently associated with side effects and the development of resistance, rendering the drugs useless. This has increased the importance of the search for new compounds with antimicrobial properties.

This special issue aims to focus on recent advances in the promising approach of developing new synthetic and/or natural molecules; articles dealing with chemical characterization, design, and synthesis as well as with pharmacological activities of new molecules are welcome.

It welcomes high-quality research papers on these topics, showing both technical advances and practical utilizations. Review articles which describe the current state of the research on heterocyclic compounds, organometallic complexes, and natural molecules studies and their applications are also welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Design, synthesis, and characterization of newly developed chemical compounds
• Investigations into the mechanisms of action of antimicrobial drugs
• Chemical characterization of emerging active ingredients/compounds, including natural extracts
• Design and synthesis of organometallic complexes with antimicrobial activities
• Organometallic complexes for targeted therapy
• Pharmacological characteristics of organometallic complexes
• Antimicrobial activities studies
• Cytotoxicity studies on healthy cells