Antibacterial evaluation of 1,4-benzoquinone derivatives.

We investigated the antibacterial activity of some new 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives, previously prepared from 2,6-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone by Suzuki cross-coupling reactions, to find effective antibacterial agents. The antibacterial activity was first tested in vitro by the disk diffusion assay against two gram-positive and two gram-negative bacteria, and then the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of active compounds was determined. The results showed that some 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives inhibit growth of both gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes), microorganisms that cause food poisoning and rheumatic fever. This study points out the antibacterial activity of some 2-aryl-3,5-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoquinone derivatives.