2-Halo- and/or 4-ethoxycarbonyl-substituted asymmetric 1,3-diaryltriazenes and 1,3-diarylamidines as well as N-methylated congeners

Assessment of the biological potential of diaryltriazene-derived triazene compounds

In the present study, novel, 1,3-diaryltriazene-derived triazene compounds were synthesized and tested. Triazenes are versatile and belong to a group of alkylating agents with interesting physicochemical properties and proven biological activities. This study describes the synthesis, molecular and crystalline structure, biological activity evaluation, and antifungal and antimicrobial potentials of 1,3-bis(X-methoxy-Y-nitrophenyl)triazenes [X = 2 and 5; Y = 4 and 5]. The antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the compounds were tested by evaluating the sensitivity of bacteria (American Type Culture Collection, ATCC) and clinical isolates to their solutions using standardized microbiological assays, cytotoxicity evaluation, and ecotoxicity tests. The antimicrobial potentials of triazenes were determined according to their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs); these compounds were active against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, with low MIC values. The most surprising result was obtained for T3 having the effective MIC of 9.937 µg/mL and antifungal activity against Candida albicans ATCC 90028, C. parapsilosis ATCC 22019, and C. tropicallis IC. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report promising activities of triazene compounds against yeast and filamentous fungi. The results showed the potential utility of triazenes as agents affecting selected resistant bacterial and fungal strains.

Mechanistic investigations on C–H activated dealkylating cyclo-amination reactions of substituted triazenes, formamidines and amidines

Catalytic dealkylating cycloamination reactions of N 1-methylated-N 1,N 3-diarylated triazenes proceed via two subsequent oxidative addition reactions, regioselectivity producing benzotriazoles by C–H and C–Br activation steps. Whereas palladium-based catalysis in the presence of dealkylating reagents and directing phosphane ligands leads to high yields, the homologous metals nickel and platinum as well as other 3d transition metals show only poor catalytic activity in similar procedures. Starting compounds have been widely varied to introduce potentially competing reaction sites and to investigate the reaction mechanism of the catalytic cyclization reactions. Yields of the benzotriazole synthesis strongly depend on the electronic and steric properties of the directing phosphane ligands, the nature of the dealkylating bases and the substitution pattern in 2- and 4-position of the aryl groups of the starting triazenes. In order to clarify the role of the catalyst, palladium-based intermediates were identified. Finally, formamidines and bulky amidines were tested in related C–H activated dealkylating cycloamination reactions.