Molecular guidelines for promising antimicrobial agents

Antimicrobial resistance presents a pressing challenge to public health, which requires the search for novel antimicrobial agents. Various experimental and theoretical methods are employed to understand drug-target interactions and propose multistep solutions. Nonetheless, efficient screening of drug databases requires rapid and precise numerical analysis to validate antimicrobial efficacy. Diptool addresses this need by predicting free energy barriers and local minima for drug translocation across lipid membranes. In the current study employing Diptool free energy predictions, the thermodynamic commonalities between selected antimicrobial molecules were characterized and investigated. To this end, various clustering methods were used to identify promising groups with antimicrobial activity. Furthermore, the molecular fingerprinting and machine learning approach (ML) revealed common structural elements and physicochemical parameters in these clusters, such as long carbon chains, charged ammonium groups, and low dipole moments. This led to the establishment of guidelines for the selection of effective antimicrobial candidates based on partition coefficients (logP) and molecular mass ranges. These guidelines were implemented within the Reinforcement Learning for Structural Evolution (ReLeaSE) framework, generating new chemicals with desired properties. Interestingly, ReLeaSE produced molecules with structural profiles similar to the antimicrobial agents tested, confirming the importance of the identified features. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the ability of molecular fingerprinting and AI-driven methods to identify promising antimicrobial agents with a broad range of properties. These findings deliver substantial implications for the development of antimicrobial drugs and the ongoing battle against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

NH4I-promoted oxidative formation of benzothiazoles and thiazoles from arylacetic acids and phenylalanines with elemental sulfur

A NH4I/K3PO4-based catalytic system has been established to enable oxidative formation of thiazole compounds from arylacetic acids and phenylalanines with elemental sulfur. While the three-component reaction of anilines or β-naphthylamines with arylacetic acids and elemental sulfur affords benzo[2,1-d]thiazoles and naphtho[2,1-d]thiazoles, the annulation of phenylalanines with elemental sulfur produces 2-benzyl and 2-benzoylthiazoles. This work well complements previous three-component annulations of benzothiazoles from other coupling partners.

Three-component synthesis of 1,4-benzothiazines via iodide-catalyzed aerobic C–H sulfuration with elemental sulfur

Five to Six: Beyond the well-established thiazole formation from elemental sulfur, this method provides the first access to the corresponding six-membered N,S-heterocyclic products via direct functionalization of multiple C–H bonds.

The ruthenium-catalyzed meta-selective C-H nitration of various azole ring-substituted arenes

The efficient ruthenium-catalyzed meta-selective C_Ar-H nitration of azole ring substituted arenes has been developed. In this work, Ru₃(CO)₁₂ was used as the catalyst, AgNO₂ as the nitro source, HPcy₃⁺·BF₄^- as the ligand, pivalic acid as the additive, and DCE as the solvent, and a wide spectrum of arenes bearing thiazole, pyrazolyl or removable oxazoline directing groups were tolerated in this meta-selective C_Ar-H nitration, affording the nitrated products in moderate to good yields. Moreover, this study reveals a gentler and environmentally friendly way to access meta-nitration arenes compared to the traditional process.

One-Pot Three-Component Synthesis and Molecular Docking of Some Novel 2-Thiazolyl Pyridines as Potent Antimicrobial Agents

BACKGROUND

Thiazoles and pyridines are versatile synthetic scaffolds possessing wide spectrum of biological effects including potential antimicrobial activity.

OBJECTIVE

In the efforts to develop suitable antimicrobia drugs, medicinal chemists have focused on thiazole derivatives. A novel series of 2-thiazolyl pyridines was prepared in a one-pot three-component reaction using 2-bromoacetyl pyridine as a starting precursor.

METHOD

Structure of the synthesized compounds was elucidated by spectral data (FT-IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass) and elemental analyses. The prepared compounds were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity.

RESULTS

The results revealed that compounds 4a,b,e-g and 12 showed promising activity. Molecular docking studies using MOE software were carried out for compounds 4a and 4b which exhibited potent activities indicated by the diameter zones (4a; 3.6, 4.0, 1.2 mm) (4b; 4.2, 3.5, 1.5 mm) and the binding affinities (4a; -5.7731, -5.3576, -4.6844 kcal mol-1) (4b; -5.9356, -2.8250, -5.3628 kcal mol-1) against Candida albicans, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This paper describes a facile and efficient MCR for synthesis of 2-thiazolyl pyridines from reaction of 2-bromoacetyl pyridine with different reagents. There was an agreement between the values of binding affinities and interactions and the data obtained from the practical antimicrobial screening of the tested compounds.

Fluorinated pyrrole incorporated 2-thiazolyl hydrazone motifs: a new class of antimicrobial and anti tuberculosis agents

In aim of obtaining novel bio-active compounds, a new series of fluorinated 1-(4-(aryl)thiazol-2-yl)-2-((1-(aryl)-2,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)methylene)hydrazines (5a-t) and 1-(4-(4-aryl)thiazol-2-yl)-2-((3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene)hydrazines (8a-d) were synthesized and screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. The potent compounds were further screened in vitro for anti-tuberculosis activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Compounds 5a, 5c-5h and 5m were found to be good inhibitors of B. subtilis with MIC ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 µg mL-1, which are nearly three to ten times more potent than the standard drug Ciprofloxacin. Compounds 5a, 5h-5k and 5o exhibited potent antifungal activity against C. albicans strain with MIC ranging from 0.4 to 1.6 µg mL-1. Compounds 8a-8c were found to be excellent inhibitors of A. niger. Compounds 5a and 5k showed significant anti tubercular activity with MIC 3.12 and 6.25 µg mL-1 respectively. Furthermore, highly active compounds were tested for their preliminary toxicity profile by hemolytic assay and were found to be non hemolytic at higher concentration with good selectivity index. Cytotoxicity of the potent compounds 5a, 5d, 5g, 5i and 5k was checked by MTT assay using normal embryonic kidney cell line HEK 293 and found to be non-toxic up to 50-200 times the MIC for antibacterial activity.

Physicochemical analyses of a bioactive 4-aminoantipyrine analogue - synthesis, crystal structure, solid state interactions, antibacterial, conformational and docking studies

A novel Schiff base derivative of 4-aminoantipyrine, that is, (E)-4-(2-methoxybenzylideneamino)-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one (MBA-dMPP), was synthesized and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, and EI-MS. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction data revealed MBA-dMPP adopts a trans configuration around its central C=N double bond, and forms orthorhombic crystals. XRD revealed that MBA-dMPP possess two different planes, in which the pyrazolone and benzylidene groups attached to C9 of the pyrazolone ring are almost coplanar and the phenyl ring connected to the N1 atom of the pyrazolone moiety lies in another plane. The intermolecular, host-guest C-H…O, C-H…N, and C-H…C van der Waals interactions were found to form a 3D network and confer stability to the MBA-dMPP crystal structure. The quantitative and qualitative solid state behaviors of MBA-dMPP were subjected to 3D Hirshfeld surface analysis and 2D fingerprint plotting. Reciprocal H…H contacts contributed most (52.9 %) to the Hirshfeld surface, followed by C…H/H…C contacts (30.2 %), whereas, O…H/H…O and N…H/H…N interactions contributed 15.5 % to the Hirshfeld surface. Electrostatic potentials were mapped over the Hirshfeld surface to analyze electrostatic complementarities within the MBA-dMPP crystal. In addition, geometrical descriptors were also analyzed to the extent of surface interactions. MBA-dMPP was also investigated for in vitro antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, and showed highest activity against Bacillus cereus (MIC = 12.5 μg mL-1) and Salmonellatythimurium (MIC = 50 μg mL-1). In silico screening was conducted by docking MBA-dMPP on the active site of S12 bacterial protein (an important therapeutic target of antibacterial agents) and its binding properties were compared with those of ciprofloxacin. Moreover, a field points map of MBA-dMPP ligand was studied to determine electrostatic and van der Waals forces, hydrophobic potentials, and positions involved in ligand-receptor interactions. Finally, the torsion energies of crystal structure and optimized and bioactive conformers of MBA-dMPP were compared to predict its bioactive conformation.

Sustainable Synthesis of Oximes, Hydrazones, and Thiosemicarbazones under Mild Organocatalyzed Reaction Conditions

Pyrrolidine catalyzes very efficiently, presumably via iminium activation, the formation of acyloximes, acylhydrazones, and thiosemicarbazones derived from aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes using equimolar amounts of reagents and green solvents. Experimental simplicity and excellent yields after a simple filtration are the main advantages of the method, being an alternative to those currently available especially for the acyl derivatives, which do not work under uncatalyzed conditions. Its application to the synthesis of acyloximes by direct condensation between aldehydes and acylhydroxylamines is unprecedented.

New Hydrazones Bearing Thiazole Scaffold: Synthesis, Characterization, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Investigation

New series of hydrazones 5–18 were synthesized, in good yields, by reacting 4-methyl-2-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)thiazole-5-carbohydrazide with differently substituted benzaldehyde. The resulting compounds were characterized via elemental analysis, physico-chemical and spectral data. An antimicrobial screening was done, using Gram (+), Gram (−) bacteria and one fungal strain. Tested molecules displayed moderate-to-good growth inhibition activity. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazide assay was used to test the antioxidant properties of the compounds. Monohydroxy (14–16), para-fluorine (13) and 2,4-dichlorine (17) derivatives exhibited better free-radical scavenging ability than the other investigated molecules.

Thiazole compounds with activity against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro

Human cryptococcosis can occur as a primary or opportunistic infection and develop as an acute, subacute, or chronic, systemic infection involving different host organs. We evaluated the antifungal activity of thirteen compounds against Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro, by assessing the toxicity of the compounds showing the greatest antifungal activity in VERO cells and murine macrophages. From these results, four compounds were considered promising for further studies because they displayed low cytotoxicity and significant antifungal activity. The heterocyclic compounds 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1m have antifungal activity levels between that of amphotericin B and fluconazole in vitro. The death curve of Cryptococcus spp. treated with these four compounds was similar to the curve obtained for amphotericin B, in that we observed a significant reduction in cell viability within the first 24 h of treatment. Additionally, we found that there was no effect when these compounds were combined with amphotericin and fluconazole, except for 1c, which antagonized the effect of amphotericin B against C. gattii, also reflected in the reduction of the post-antifungal effect (PAFE); however, this interaction did not alter the ergosterol content. The results shown in this paper reveal the discovery of novel thiazole compounds, which are easy to synthesize, and with potentially exhibit antifungal activity, and display low cytotoxicity in normal mammalian cells. These compounds can be used as prototypes for the design of new antifungal drugs against C. gattii and C. neoformans.

Thiazole formation through a modified Gewald reaction

The synthesis of thiazoles and thiophenes starting from nitriles, via a modified Gewald reaction has been studied for a number of different substrates. 1,4-Dithiane-2,5-diol was used as the aldehyde precursor to give either 2-substituted thiazoles or 2-substituted aminothiophenes depending on the substitution of the α-carbon to the cyano group.

Synthesis of a sugar-based thiosemicarbazone series and structure-activity relationship versus the parasite cysteine proteases rhodesain, cruzain, and Schistosoma mansoni cathepsin B1

The pressing need for better drugs against Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness, and schistosomiasis motivates the search for inhibitors of cruzain, rhodesain, and Schistosoma mansoni CB1 (SmCB1), the major cysteine proteases from Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei, and S. mansoni, respectively. Thiosemicarbazones and heterocyclic analogues have been shown to be both antitrypanocidal and inhibitory against parasite cysteine proteases. A series of compounds was synthesized and evaluated against cruzain, rhodesain, and SmCB1 through biochemical assays to determine their potency and structure-activity relationships (SAR). This approach led to the discovery of 6 rhodesain, 4 cruzain, and 5 SmCB1 inhibitors with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50s) of ≤ 10 μM. Among the compounds tested, the thiosemicarbazone derivative of peracetylated galactoside (compound 4i) was discovered to be a potent rhodesain inhibitor (IC50 = 1.2 ± 1.0 μM). The impact of a range of modifications was determined; removal of thiosemicarbazone or its replacement by semicarbazone resulted in virtually inactive compounds, and modifications in the sugar also diminished potency. Compounds were also evaluated in vitro against the parasites T. cruzi, T. brucei, and S. mansoni, revealing active compounds among this series.

Pd/Cu-cocatalyzed reigoselective arylation of thiazole derivatives at 2-position under ligand-free conditions

An efficient protocol for regioselective arylation of thiazole derivatives at the 2-position via palladium- and copper-catalyzed C–H bond activation under ligand-free conditions has been developed.

Eco-friendly synthesis, physicochemical studies, biological assay and molecular docking of steroidal oxime-ethers

The aim of this study was to report the synthesis of biologically active compounds; 7-(2'-aminoethoxyimino)-cholest-5-ene (4), a steroidal oxime-ether and its derivatives (5, 6) via a facile microwave assisted solvent free reaction methodology. This new synthetic, eco-friendly, sustainable protocol resulted in a remarkable improvement in the synthetic efficiency (85-93 % yield) and high purity using basic alumina. The synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial against six bacterial strains by disc diffusion method and antioxidant potential by DPPH assay. The binding capabilities of a compound 6 exhibiting good antibacterial potential were assessed on the basis of molecular docking studies and four types of three-dimensional molecular field descriptors. Moreover the structure-antimicrobial activity relationships were studied using some physicochemical and quantum-chemical parameters with GAMESS interface as well as WebMO Job Manager by using the basic level of theory. Hence, this synthetic approach is believed to provide a better scope for the synthesis of steroidal oxime-ether analogues and will be a more practical alternative to the presently existing procedures. Moreover, detailed in silico docking studies suggested the plausible mechanism of steroidal oxime-ethers as effective antimicrobial agents.

The synthesis and antiproliferative activities of new arylidene-hydrazinyl-thiazole derivatives

New and known arylidene-hydrazinyl-thiazole derivatives have been synthesized by a convenient Hantzsch condensation. All compounds were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity on two carcinoma cell lines, MDA-MB231 and HeLa. Significant antiproliferative activity for 2-(2-benzyliden-hydrazinyl)-4-methylthiazole on both MDA-MB-231 (IC50: 3.92 µg/mL) and HeLa (IC50: 11.4 µg/mL) cell lines, and for 2-[2-(4-methoxybenzylidene) hydrazinyl]-4-phenylthiazole on HeLa (IC50: 11.1 µg/mL) cell line is reported. Electrophoresis experiments showed no plasmid DNA (pTZ57R) cleavage in the presence of the investigated thiazoles.

Bis(2-amino-4-phenyl-1,3-thia-zol-3-ium) tetra-chlorido-palladate(II)

The title compound, (C9H9N2S)2[PdCl4], consists of two monoprotonated 2-amino-4-phenyl-1,3-thia-zole molecules and one tetra-chlorido-palladate anion. The organic molecules exhibit a dihedral angle between the main rings planes of 31.82 (9)°. In the anion, the Pd(II) atom is located on a crystallographic centre of symmetry with a square-planar geometry. In the crystal, the anions and cations are connected through bifurcated N-H⋯Cl hydrogen bonds, and these inter-actions lead to hydrogen-bonded tapes of cations and anions along [100].

Synthesis and evaluation of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs as anti-cancer and anti-microbial agents

In the present study, a series of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs were synthesized and then evaluated in terms of their cytotoxic activities against four human cancer cell lines, e.g. lung cancer (A549), ovarian cancer (SK-OV-3), skin cancer (SK-MEL-2), and colon cancer (HCT15), as well as anti-microbial activities against three microbes, e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, and Aspergillus niger. The title compounds were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation reaction of benzyl cyanide or p-nitrobenzyl cyanide with substituted benzaldehydes in good yields. Most of the compounds exhibited significant suppressive activities against the growth of all cancer cell lines. Compound 3c was most active in inhibiting the growth of A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT15 cells lines with IC50 values of 0.57, 0.14, 0.65, and 0.34 mg/mL, respectively, followed by compounds 3f, 3i, and 3h. Compound 3c exhibited 2.4 times greater cytotoxic activity against HCT15 cells, whereas it showed similar potency against SK-OV-3 cells to that of the standard anti-cancer agent doxorubicin. Structure-activity relationship study revealed that electron-donating groups at the para-position of phenyl ring B were more favorable for improved cytotoxic activity, whereas the presence of electron-withdrawing groups was unfavorable compare to unsubstituted acrylonitrile. An optimal electron density on phenyl ring A of (Z)-2,3-diphenylacrylonitrile analogs was crucial for their cytotoxic activities against human cancer cell lines used in the present study. Qualitative structure-cytotoxic activity relationships were studied using physicochemical parameters; a good correlation between calculated polar surface area (PSA), a lipophobic parameter, and cytotoxic activity was found. Moreover, all compounds showed significant anti-bacterial activities against S. typhi, whereas compound 3k showed potent inhibition against both S. aureus and S. typhi bacterial strains.