Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of new 2-[p-substituted-benzyl]-5-[substituted-carbonylamino]benzoxazoles.

A series of 23 new 2-[p-substituted-benzyl]-5-[p-substituted-phenyl/benzyl-carbonylamino]benzoxazole derivatives has been synthesized by reacting 5-amino-2-[p-substituted-benzyl]benzoxazoles with the appropriate carboxylic acid chlorides. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR and (1)H-NMR spectral data. Antimicrobial activities of the compounds were investigated using the twofold serial dilution technique against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria and three Candida species in comparison with standard drugs. Microbiological results indicated that the newly synthesized 2-[p-substituted-benzyl]-5-[p-substituted-phenyl/benzyl-carbonylamino]benzoxazole derivatives (3-25) possessed a broad spectrum of activity, showing MIC values of 6.25-200 microg/mL against the gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms tested. Moreover, they showed significant antifungal activity with MIC values of 3.12-100 microg/mL against the Candida species tested. Especially, with a MIC value of 3.12 microg/mL, 2-benzyl-5-[p-bromobenzyl-carbonylamino]benzoxazole 9 displayed the same activity against C. glabrata as the standard drug myconazol.