An Efficient One-Pot Catalyzed Synthesis of 2,4-Disubstituted 5-Nitroimidazoles Displaying Antiparasitic and Antibacterial Activities.

A one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura or Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira reaction on 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole under microwave heating was developed. This method is applicable to a wide range of (hetero)arylboronic acids and terminal alkynes. Additionally, this approach provides a simple and efficient way to synthesize 2,4-disubstituted 5-nitroimidazole derivatives with antibacterial and antiparasitic properties.

1. Introduction

Nitroimidazole drugs show a wide range of activities against parasites and anaerobic bacteria. These activities vary according to the nature of the substituents and the position of the nitro group [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Metronidazole (mtz) appears on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and is today the most commonly used 5-nitroimidazole compound worldwide.

5-Nitroimidazoles are prodrugs which need to be activated by reduction of their nitro group. Reduced metronidazole forms covalent bonds to DNA macromolecules, leading to the loss of helical structure and irreversible breaking [8]. The reduction of these compounds involves several anaerobic enzymatic pathways such as ferredoxin oxidoreductase [9], nitroreductase [10] and thioredoxin reductase [11].

Resistance to metronidazole has emerged, but despite studies on Trichomonas vaginalis [9,12,13,14,15], Giardia intestinalis [16,17,18], and anaerobic bacteria [19,20,21,22,23], the mechanism is not yet fully understood. Such resistance leads physicians to use higher doses of metronidazole and longer courses of treatment to improve activity [24].

However, higher doses and longer regimens may promote side effects and decrease compliance. Although the most common side effects of metronidazole treatment are mild (headache, vertigo, nausea, a metallic taste in the mouth and an Antabuse-like effect with alcohol) [25], other more serious adverse effects have been documented, such as mutagenicity on bacteria [26,27,28,29,30,31] and carcinogenicity on mice and rats [32]. Moreover, in recent decades, an increasing number of anaerobic bacterial pathogens have been observed to cause severe diarrhea and enterocolitis [33,34,35,36].

Therefore, there is an ongoing search for alternative 5-nitroimidazoles effective on anaerobic-resistant strains without serious adverse effects [37,38,39,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48]. Following the work of Walsh et al. in 1987 [49], we focused our research on pharmacomodulation of the 2- and 4-positions of the 5-nitroimidazole scaffold [50].

Palladium-catalyzed reactions, particularly Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling, are widely applied in the synthesis of bioactive complex molecules, offering mild reaction conditions and compatibility with a broad range of functional groups [51,52]. Moreover, some Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling conditions allow regioselective cross-coupling on polyhalogenated heterocycles [53,54], leaving a halogenated α position unchanged and able to react in a second step. This enables a wide range of compounds with the same starting material.

The regioselectivity in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction is driven by the electrophilic properties of the halogenated carbon. During the oxidative addition step, the palladium catalyst which is a nucleophilic species, specifically links the most electrophilic halogenated carbon [53,54,55]. The nitro group, essential for medicinal properties, can also act as a chemical directing group during synthesis [56]. Thus, the nitro group in position 5 can significantly increase the electrophilic properties of the C-4, making this position the most reactive toward cross-coupling reactions, although on the naked imidazole ring, the C-2 position was described as the most reactive [57,58].

As part of our research program centered on the design and synthesis of novel 5-nitroimidazole compounds [40,43,48,50,59,60], we decided to exploit this particular reactivity of the 5-nitroimidazole series toward cross-coupling reactions, seeking a rapid and versatile pathway for the synthesis of 2,4-disubstitued 5-nitroimidazole derivatives. Therefore, we report herein a regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling between 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2) and aryl or heteroarylboronic acids resulting in the formation of 2-bromo-4-substituted-1-methyl-5-nitroimidazoles which can then undergo a second (Suzuki-Miyaura or Sonogashira) cross-coupling reaction to obtain 2,4-disubstituted 5-nitroimidazoles during a sequential one-pot process.

Finally, the antiparasitic activity of the obtained 5-nitroimidazole derivatives was assessed against T. vaginalis and anaerobic bacteria of the genus Clostridium and Bacillus.

2. Results

2.1. Chemistry

The synthesis of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2) was realized from the commercial product 4(5)-nitroimidazole in two sequential steps, as shown in Scheme 1. The first step consisted of bromination with elemental bromine in water and in the presence of sodium hydrogen carbonate, according to Pedada et al. [61]. The 2,4(5)-dibromo-5(4)-nitroimidazole mixture was then alkylated by dimethyl sulphate (DMS) in DMF leading to two isomeric products 1 and 2 in 71% overall yield.

Scheme 1

Synthesis of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2).

Our particular aim in exploring the reactivity of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2) in Suzuki-Miyaura reactions was to test the regioselectivity of this type of reaction toward the halogenated positions C-2 and C-4.

We began our study by optimizing the regioselective coupling reaction of compound 2 with phenylboronic acid (1.1 equiv.) in the presence of Pd(PPh3)4 (0.04 equiv.) as catalyst, Na2CO3 (3 equiv.) as base, in a mixture of DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1) as solvent. First, the reaction was performed at room temperature, and after 1.5 h, no conversion of compound 2 was observed (Table 1, entry 1). When the temperature was increased to 60 °C, after 48 h of reaction, a mixture of compounds 2/3a/4/5 was observed with both low conversion and selectivity (LC/MS ratio 25/28/26/21%, respectively) (Table 1, entry 2). In these conditions, the reactivity of positions C-2 and C-4 was similar. The use of microwave irradiation at 80 °C for 1 h (Table 1, entry 4) allowed better conversion of compound 2 in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, with lower selectivity and improved yield of the dicoupled compound 5. Next, we examined the influence of other palladium sources such as PdCl2(PPh3)2, Pd(DPPF)Cl2 and Pd(OAc)2. With PdCl2(PPh3)2 and Pd(DPPF)Cl2, low conversion was observed and there was no improvement in terms of selectivity (Table 1, entries 5 and 6). To our satisfaction, good conversion and selectivity were observed with Pd(OAc)2 and compound 3a was obtained in 60% yield (Table 1, entry 7). More importantly, the use of 1.3 equiv. of phenylboronic acid for a longer time afforded compound 3a in better yield (64%, Table 1, entry 12). No yield improvement for compound 3a was observed when we carried out the reaction in presence of Xantphos (Table 1, entry 8) or increased the temperature (Table 1, entries 10 and 11). Moderate selectivity was obtained when PPh3 was added (Table 1, entry 9). These trials with different catalysts revealed that regioselectivity depends on the catalytic system: Pd(OAc)2 performed best, both on conversion and selectivity, in our reaction conditions.

Table 1

Optimization of the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Entry	Pd (0.04 equiv.)	Temp (°C)	Time (h)	2 (%)	3a (%)	4 (%)	5 (%)
1 a	Pd(PPh3)4	25	1.5	100	-	-	-
2 a	Pd(PPh3)4	60	48	25	28	26	21
3 a	Pd(PPh3)4	60 MW	1.0	29	22	23	26
4 a	Pd(PPh3)4	80 MW	1.0	12	24	27	37
5 a	PdCl2(PPh3)2	60 MW	1.0	48	27	16	9
6 a	Pd(DPPF)Cl2	60 MW	1.0	42	37	14	7
7 c	Pd(OAc)2	60 MW	1.0	20	60	traces	8
8 a	Pd(OAc)2/Xantphos	60 MW	1.0	18	58	9	15
9 c	Pd(OAc)2/PPh3	60 MW	1.0	16	30	24	14
10 c	Pd(OAc)2	80 MW	1.0	5	36	traces	26
11 c	Pd(OAc)2	70 MW	1.0	10	41	traces	19
12 b,c	Pd(OAc)2	60 MW	2.0	13	64	traces	9

a LC/MS ratio; b 1.3 equiv. of phenylboronic acid; c Isolated yields.

So, the best reaction conditions were 1 equivalent of imidazole 2, 1.3 equivalents of phenyl-boronic acid, 0.04 equivalents of palladium acetate and 3 equivalents of sodium carbonate in DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1) for 2 h at 60 °C under microwave irradiation. With the optimized reaction conditions in hand, we assessed the scope and limitations of the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2). A variety of substituted arylboronic acids (with both electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups) were used to give the corresponding coupling products 3a–i in moderate to good yields (55–65%). However, the use of hydroxymethylphenylboronic acid (3i) and boronic acids substituted by withdrawing groups such as NO2 or CF3 required a temperature increase to 65 °C (Table 2, Compounds 3c, 3d). On the other hand, the use of heteroarylboronic acids (pyridine-3-ylboronic acid, 5-methylthiophen-2-ylboronic acid) led to very low conversion under our optimal conditions. Increasing the temperature in these cases improved the yield of the corresponding dicoupled product.

Table 2

Scope of the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Compound	R1	Yield (%)
3a	C6H5	64
3b	p-(OCH3)-C6H4	65
3c a	p-(CF3)-C6H4	62
3d a	m-(NO2)-C6H4	61
3e	p-(CN)-C6H4	64
3f	p-(F)-C6H4	62
3g	m, m, p-(OCH3)-C6H2	55
3h	p-(CH3)-C6H4	63
3i a	p-(CH2OH)-C6H4	58

Reaction conditions: boronic acids (1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.), DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1), MW, 60 °C, 2 h. a MW, 65 °C, 2 h.

The X-ray crystal structure (Figure 1) was determined for compound 3c to confirm the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction on 4-position of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2).

Figure 1

X-ray crystal structure of compound 3c.

Following optimization of the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, we investigated the one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2).

The sequential one-pot two-step bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reactions of compound 2 were studied using phenylboronic acid and 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid under microwave irradiation. Phenylboronic acid can be expected to react selectively at the C-4 position, with the subsequent addition of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid leading to reaction at the C-2 position of compound 2 (Table 3).

Table 3

Optimization of the second step of the one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Entry	Catalyst	Temp (°C)	3a (%)	5 (%)	6 (%)	7 (%)
1	-	60	47	6	22	13
2	Pd(OAc)2 0.04 equiv.	60	35	6	30	16
3	Pd(OAc)2 0.04 equiv.	110	21	6	40	15
4	Pd(PPh3)4 0.04 equiv.	110	-	8	60	18
5	PPh3 0.1 equiv.	110	-	12	64	10

The first step was performed in the presence of phenylboronic acid (1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.) in DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1) at 60 °C under microwave irradiation for 2 h. In the second step, the reaction was carried out without addition of a palladium catalyst and in presence of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (1.3 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.) at 60 °C under microwave irradiation for 1 h, giving the expected disubstituted imidazole 6 in moderate yield (22%, Table 3, entry 1). These conditions did not allow a complete conversion of the intermediate compound 3a, which remains the majority product with a yield of 47%. Adding Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.) in the second step increased the yield of compound 6 to 30% (Table 3, entry 2). Performing the reaction at 110 °C increased the yield of compound 6 to 40% (Table 3, entry 3). Interestingly, using Pd(PPh3)4 (0.04 equiv.) or adding only PPh3 (0.1 equiv.) in the second step led to complete conversion of the intermediate 3a and the corresponding product 6 isolated respectively in 60 and 64% yields (Table 3, entries 4 and 5). Note that, when the reaction temperature was reduced to 90 °C, incomplete conversion of the intermediate 3a was observed (according to LC/MS analysis).

In addition, the use of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid in the first step and phenylboronic acid in the second step gave the corresponding product 6a in better yield (71%, Scheme 2).

Scheme 2

One-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

With optimized conditions established, the scope of the one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reaction was explored using a variety of (hetero)arylboronic acids. We chose 4-methoxy-phenylboronic acid for the first step and different boronic acids for the second step (Table 4). This approach enabled a broad range of (hetero)arylboronic acids bearing an electron-donating or withdrawing group to be used under standard conditions, and provided the disubstituted imidazole derivatives 6a–j in moderate to good yields (Table 4, 50–71%).

Table 4

Scope of one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reaction. a

Compound	R2	Yield (%)
6a	C6H5	71
6b	p-(F)-C6H4	70
6c	p-(Cl)-C6H4	60
6d	m-(NO2)-C6H4	65
6e	m, m, p-(OCH3)-C6H2	50
6f	m-(CF3)-C6H4	58
6g	p-(CH3)-C6H4	56
6h	naphthalen-2-yl	61
6i	5-methylthiophen-2-yl	52
6j	3-pyridine	69

a Reaction conditions: Step 1: 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.), DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1), MW, 60 °C, 2 h; Step 2: boronic acid (1.3 equiv.), PPh3 (0.1 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.), MW, 110 °C, 1 h.

In view of these encouraging results, we then turned our attention to the sequential one-pot regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira reaction of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2). Having optimized reaction conditions for the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura coupling, we decided to develop the one-pot Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira sequence.

Thus, based on the already optimized regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction conditions and the classical conditions for Sonogashira reaction, we prepared the disubstituted 5-nitroimidazole derivative 8a from 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid and ethynylbenzene (Scheme 3). The first step was performed in presence of 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (1.3 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.) in a mixture of DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1) under microwave irradiation for 2 h at 60 °C. After cooling, ethynylbenzene (1.3 equiv.), PPh3 (0.1 equiv.), CuI (0.1 equiv.) and Et3N (2 equiv.) were added and the mixture was heated again under microwave irradiation for 1 h at 70 °C. This sequence led to the desired compound 8a in good yield (67%) and compounds 7 and 9 in 11% and 10% yields, respectively (Scheme 3).

Scheme 3

One-pot regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira reaction.

The scope of this Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira sequence was then investigated using the optimized procedure. We were pleased to observe the formation of the disubstituted imidazole derivatives 8a–j in moderate to good yields when 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid was used in the first step and various terminal alkynes in the second step (Table 5). Both electron-poor (compounds 8c, 8h and 8i) and electron-rich (compounds 8b, 8d and 8f) substituents on aryl alkynes are well tolerated. Interestingly, this strategy was also tolerant to cycloalkyl alkynes (compounds 8e and 8j) and to a hydroxyl moiety (compound 8g).

Table 5

Scope of the one-pot Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira reaction. a

Compound	R3	Yield (%)
8a	C6H5	67
8b	m-(CH3)-C6H4	74
8c	m-fluoro-C6H4	59
8d	o-(CH3)-p-(OCH3)-C6H3	53
8e	cyclopentyl	60
8f	p-(tert-butyl)-C6H4	63
8g	CH2OH	51
8h	m-chloro-C6H4	61
8i	o-chloro-C6H4	52
8j	cyclopropyl	63

a Reaction conditions: Step 1: 4-methoxyphenylboronic acid (1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (3 equiv.), DME/EtOH/H2O (3/1/1), MW, 60 °C, 2 h; Step 2: alkyne (1.3 equiv.), PPh3 (0.1 equiv.), Et3N (2 equiv.), CuI (0.1 equiv.), MW, 70 °C, 1 h.

2.2. Antimicrobial Activity

The antimicrobial activity of the newly synthesized products was evaluated against anaerobic Gram positive bacteria of the genus Clostridium and Bacillus. They were also evaluated for their antiparasitic activity against T. vaginalis. Metronidazole (mtz) was used as control drug to evaluate the potency of the tested compounds under the same conditions.

2.2.1. Antibacterial Activity

Antibacterial activity was determined by the disc diffusion method, according to European committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) recommendations [62]. We first screened the 27 molecules synthesized for their antibacterial activity against C. butyricum, C. perfringens, C. neonatale, C. difficile, B. circulans and E. coli. The observed data on the antibacterial activity of the 3 series of compounds are reported for compounds 3a–3i in Table 6, for compounds 6a–6j in Table 7, and for compounds 8a–8j in Table 8. Molecules are considered active when the inhibition diameter is larger than 20 mm, and very active when it is larger than the inhibition diameter of metronidazole.

Table 6

Antibacterial activity of molecules 3a–3i obtained with the first regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Bacterial Species	Compounds
	3a	3b	3c	3d	3e	3f	3g	3h	3i	mtz
C. butyricum Nec 0	14	38	0	26	18	14	27	21	0	>30
C. perfringens	>20	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	<20
C. neonatale	25	29	14	>20	24	28	30	25	22	32
C. difficile	>20	31	15	10	25	28	23	29	32	>20
B. circulans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	<20
E. coli	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Inhibition zone diameter (mm).

Table 7

Antibacterial activity of molecules 6a–j obtained with the one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura reaction.

Bacterial Species	Compounds
	6a	6c	6d	6e	6g	6h	6i	6j	mtz
C. butyricum Nec 0	24	20	29	14	0	0	25	>20	>30
C. perfringens	0	0	0	0	0	>20	0	0	<20
C. neonatale	22	>20	>20	>20	14	0	>20	>20	32
C. difficile	23	12	14	14	16	13	0	15	>20
B. circulans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	<20
E. coli	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Inhibition zone diameter (mm).

Table 8

Antibacterial activity of molecules 8a–j obtained with the one-pot Suzuki-Miyaura/ Sonogashira reaction.

Bacterial Species	Compounds
	8a	8b	8c	8d	8e	8g	8h	8i	8j	mtz
C. butyricum Nec 0	0	25	0	0	17	17	8	18	23	>30
C. perfringens	0	0	0	24	0	0	>20	0	0	<20
C. neonatale	11	>20	29	0	15	23	0	13	18	32
C. difficile	0	13	0	0	17	20	0	0	19	>20
B. circulans	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	<20
E. coli	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Inhibition zone diameter (mm).

Results show that none of the molecules tested, including metronidazole, were active on facultative anaerobic bacteria (B. circulans) and aerobic bacteria (E. coli). Indeed, to be active, 5-nitro-imidazole compounds must undergo a reduction of their nitro group which can only be carried out in an anaerobic environment [2]. If the molecules were active on aerobic bacteria, this would suggest another mechanism of action.

For the anaerobic bacteria, it was observed that compounds 3b, 3e–i (Table 6), with a bromine in 2-position, possessed an activity on C. butyricum Nec 0, C. neonatale and C. difficile equivalent or higher than the standard metronidazole. On the other hand, compounds 6a–j (Table 7) with an aryl group in 2-position had a lower activity than compounds 3a–j. Only compound 6a was active on C. butyricum Nec 0, C. neonatale and C. difficile. Compounds 8a–j, the last series, with an alkyne in 2-position, had a lower activity than the molecules of the first two series (Table 8).

The second step consisted in testing the most active molecules, 3b, 3e–i on other particularly virulent bacteria such as B. cereus, C. beijerenckii, C. tetani and C. difficile 027 (Table 9). The first results showed that a bromine in 2-position could improve the activity of our compounds, so, we decided to test the starting compound 2 with two bromine atoms in 2 and 4-position. Unfortunately, this last compound did not exhibit any activity (Table 9). Whatever the nature of the aryl group in 4-position, the molecules with a bromine in 2-position (3b, 3e–3i) had promising activity on C. butyricum Nec 0, Nec 1, Nec 8 and on C. difficile O27. One of them, compound 3g, with a trimethoxyphenyl group in 4-position, exhibited higher activity against C. butyricum Nec 8 than metronidazole. It was thus observed from the investigation on anaerobic bacteria screening data that the combination of a bromine atom in 2-position and an aryl group in 4-position enhanced the compounds’ antibacterial activities.

Table 9

Antibacterial activity of the most promising molecules.

Bacterial Species	Compounds
	2	3b	3e	3f	3g	3h	3i	mtz
B. cereus	0	10.9	9.6	9.6	10.9	10.7	11.5	0
B. beijerenckii	0	0	0	9	0	0	0	11
C. butyricum Nec 0	0	29.4	24.6	26.7	30.4	27.6	30.2	31
C. butyricum Nec 1	0	32.8	27	29.8	32.2	29.3	34.1	34
C. butyricum Nec 8	0	31.3	24.8	27.8	34.5	27.8	32	30
C. tetani	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	56
C. perfringens	0	0	20	0	26	0	29	30
C. difficile O27	5.8	32.4	35	30.6	33.7	29.7	32.8	37

Inhibition zone diameter (mm).

2.2.2. Antiparasitic Activity

We selected the six molecules 3b, 3e–3i showing the most promising activities against anaerobic bacteria, and assessed their therapeutic interest on T. vaginalis by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, Table 10). We also performed a cytotoxicity evaluation via the Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) toxicity test [63] on CHO-K1 Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (ATCC CCL61) to detect cytotoxic concentrations of 50% (CC50). This procedure enabled us to determine the selectivity index of these 6 compounds (Table 10), all of which are shown to have a significantly higher activity, with lower MICs, than metronidazole. On the other hand, they have a significant and higher toxicity than metronidazole, especially for compounds 3b, 3f and 3i with methoxyphenyl, fluorophenyl or hydroxymethylphenyl groups in the 4-position.

Table 10

Antiparasitic evaluation on T. vaginalis.

Compounds	Activity T. vaginalis MIC (µM)	Cytotoxicity CC50 (µM)	Selectivity Index a
3b	4.00	2.58	0.64
3e	4.07	-	-
3f	1.04	1.72	1.65
3g	0.84	2.59	3.08
3h	1.05	3.59	3.42
3i	0.99	1.13	1.13
mtz	7.30	557.34	18.65

a Selectivity index calculated according to the formula: IC50/MIC.

2.2.3. Cytotoxicity Evaluation

The molecules with an aryl (6a–j) or alkyne (8a–j) group at 2-position show cytotoxicity equivalent to that of molecules with a bromine in 2-position (3a–i) (Table 11). The homogeneity of the cytotoxicity of our molecules in the three different series shows the importance of the substituent at the 2-position of the imidazole nucleus.

Table 11

Cytotoxicity evaluation on Chinese Hamster Ovary cells.

Compounds	Cytotoxicity CC50 (µM)
3a	1.89
3b	2.58
3d	1.87
3f	1.72
3g	2.59
3h	3.59
3i	1.13
6a	3.21
6c	1.41
6d	6.94
6e	0.90
6g	2.97
6h	0.83
6i	1.48
6j	1.24
8a	2.65
8b	1.33
8c	1.35
8d	0.43
8e	2.39
8g	0.27
8h	4.57
8i	2.73
8j	1.17
mtz	557.34

3. Experimental Section

3.1. General Information

Melting points were determined on Büchi B-540 (BÜCHI Labortechnik AG, Flawil, Switzerland) and are uncorrected. Elemental analyses and HRMS were carried out at the Spectropole, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques de Saint-Jérôme, Marseille. Elemental analyses were performed on a EA1112 instrument (Thermo Finnigan, San Jose, CA, USA). HRMS spectra were recorded on a QStar Elite (Applied Biosystems SCIEX, Foster City, CA, USA) spectrometer. PEG was a matrix for HRMS. LC/MS analyses were performed at the Faculté de Pharmacie de Marseille on an Accela High System® chain U-HPLC coupled with a Thermo MSQ Plus® simple quadrupole. A Thermo Hypersil Gold® 50 × 2.1 mm chromatographic column was used (SiO2 C18) with 1.9 µm diameter particles. Analysis is 8 min running, with an MeOH/H2O eluent gradient from 50/50 to 95/05. Both 1H-NMR spectra (250 MHz, reference CDCl3 δ = 7.26, [d6]DMSO δ = 2.50) and 13C-NMR spectra (62.5 MHz, reference CDCl3 δ = 77.0, [d6]DMSO δ = 39.7) were recorded at 24 °C on an ARX 250 spectrometer (Bruker, Wissembourg, France) in CDCl3 and [d6]DMSO solvents at the Faculté de Pharmacie de Marseille. Solvents were dried by conventional methods. The following adsorbent was used for column chromatography: silica gel 60 (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany, particle size 0.063–0.200 mm, 70–230 mesh ASTM). TLC was performed on 5 cm × 10 cm aluminium plates coated with silica gel 60F-254 (Merck) in an appropriate eluent. Microwave reactions were performed with an Initiator microwave oven (Biotage®, Charlotte, NC, USA) using 2–5 mL sealed vials; temperatures were measured with an IR-sensor and reaction times are given as hold times.

3.2. Chemistry

3.2.1. 2,4-Dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2)

First step: to a solution of 4(5)-nitro-1H-imidazole (20 g, 177 mmol), NaHCO3 (44.6 g, 3 equiv., 531 mmol) in water (120 mL) was added dropwise at 0 °C dibromine (27 mL, 3 equiv., 531 mmol) and the reaction mixture was heated at 65 °C for 6 h. After cooling, the solution was poured into bath of ice. A yellow precipitate appeared and was filtered, washed with water (3 × 100 mL) and dried in vacuum drying oven (dessicator cabinet). The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyle acetate (3 × 100 mL) and the organic layer was washed with brine (3 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. Yellow solid was obtained and added to the precipitate to give 36.3 g (80%) of 2,4(5)-dibromo-5(4)-nitroimidazole.

Second step; to a solution of 2,4(5)-dibromo-5(4)-nitroimidazole (34 g, 126 mmol) in DMF (80 mL) was added dropwise at 0 °C dimethyl sulfate (13.1 mL, 1.1 equiv., 138 mmol) and the reaction mixture was heated at 100 °C for 2 h. After cooling, the solution was treated with a saturated solution of sodium hydrogen carbonate at 0 °C. A white precipitate appeared and was filtered. One part of the precipitate was solubilised in ethyl acetate and evaporated after filtration. The precipitate not dissolved was the 2,5-dibromo-1-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazole (1, 38%, 14 g), M.p. 192 °C (lit. [26] 204–205 °C). 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.75 (s, 3H, NCH3) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.0 (NCH3), 106.7 (CAr), 120.4 (CAr) ppm (CNO2 was not visible under these conditions). The aqueous layer was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 × 100 mL) and the organic layer was washed with brine (3 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (9/1) and the 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2) was obtained in 33% in yield (12.1 g). M.p. 167 °C (lit. [42] 160–161 °C). 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.02 (s, 3H, NCH3) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 37.2 (NCH3), 119.8 (CAr), 126.4 (CAr) ppm (CNO2 was not visible under these conditions).

3.2.2. General Procedure for the Regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction

A solution of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2, 0.1 g, 0.35 mmol), boronic acid (0.46 mmol, 1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (3 mg, 0.014 mmol, 0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (0.11 g, 1.05 mmol, 3 equiv.), in a DME/EtOH/H2O mixture (3/1/1, 5 mL) was heated at 60 °C under microwave irradiation for 2 h. After cooling, 60 mL of water were added and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 50 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (3 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (9/1), (1/1 for 3i), cyclohexane/ethyl acetate (9/1 for 3a)] and recrystallized from propan-2-ol.

2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-phenyl-1H-imidazole (3a): Yield 64% (63 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 96 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.01 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.43–7.45 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.73–7.77 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.5 (NCH3), 126.6 (CAr), 128.1 (2 CHAr), 129.5 (2 CHAr), 129.9 (CHAr), 130.7 (CAr), 136.0 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C10H8BrN3O2]+: 281.9873; found 281.9874.

2-Bromo-4-(4-methoxypheny)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (3b): Yield 65% (71 mg); orange solid; M.p. 125 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.00 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.95 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.77 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.6 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 123.0 (CAr), 126.8 (CAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 135.8 (CAr), 144.5 (CAr), 161.0 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C11H10BrN3O3]+: 311.9978; found 311.9977.

2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-1H-imidazole (3c): Yield 62% (76 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 102 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.03 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.69 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 8.87 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.6 (NCH3), 123.9 (q, 1JC-F = 272.4 Hz, CF3), 125.1 (q, 3JC-F = 3.9 Hz, 2 CHAr), 126.9 (C), 129.9 (2 CHAr), 131.6 (q, 2JC-F = 32.5 Hz, CAr), 134.2 (CAr), 136.3 (CAr), 142.4 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C11H7BrF3N3O2]+: 349.9746; found 349.9744.

2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1H-imidazole (3d): Yield 61% (70 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 166 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.06 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.63 (t, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.10 (d, 3JH-H = 7.7 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.28-8.32 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 8.66 (s, 1H, Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.8 (NCH3), 124.5 (CHAr), 124.8 (CHAr), 127.1 (CAr), 129.2 (CHAr), 132.4 (CAr), 135.4 (CHAr), 136.3 (CAr), 141.5 (CAr), 148.0 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C10H7BrN4O4 (327.09): C 36.72, H 2.16, N 17.13; found C 36.82, H 2.06, N 17.13.

4-(2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-4-yl)benzonitrile (3e): Yield 64% (69 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 155 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.04 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.73 (d, 3JH-H = 8.5 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.88 (d, 3JH-H = 8.5 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.8 (NCH3), 113.3 (C), 118.4 (CAr), 127.1 (CAr), 130.2 (2 CHAr), 131.9 (2 CHAr), 135.0 (CAr), 136.4 (CAr), 141.8 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C11H7BrN4O2]+: 306.9825; found 306.9824.

2-Bromo-4-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (3f): Yield 62% (65 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 112 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.01 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.08–7.15 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.74–7.80 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.6 (NCH3), 115.2 (d, 2JC-F = 21.5 Hz, 2 CHAr), 126.7 (CAr), 126.8 (CAr), 131.7 (d, 3JC-F = 8.8 Hz, 2 CHAr), 135.9 (CAr), 143.3 (CAr), 163.6 (d, 1JC-F = 250.9 Hz, CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C10H7BrFN3O2 (300.08): C 40.02, H 2.35, N 14.00; found C 39.86, H 2.23, N 13.80.

2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-imidazole (3g): Yield 55% (72 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 134 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.89 (s, 9H, NCH3, 2 OCH3), 4.00 (s, 3H, OCH3), 7.07 (s, 2H, 2 Ar-H), ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3δ = 36.7 (NCH3), 56.2 (2 OCH3), 60.9 (OCH3), 107.0 (2 CHAr), 107.4 (CAr), 125.7 (CAr), 126.6 (CAr), 139.6 (CAr), 144.0 (CAr), 152.8 (2 CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C13H14BrN3O5]+: 372.0190; found 372.0187.

2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-p-tolyl-1H-imidazole (3h): Yield 63% (65 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 160 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 2.40 (s, 3H, CH3), 4.01 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.24 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 CH ar), 7.66 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 CH ar) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 21.4 (CH3), 36.5 (NCH3), 125.4 (CAr), 126.6 (CAr), 127.8 (CAr), 128.9 (2 CHAr), 129.4 (2 CHAr), 140.2 (CAr), 144.5 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C11H10BrN3O2 (296.12): C 44.62, H 3.40, N 14.19; found C 44.63, H 3.27, N 13.95.

[4-(2-Bromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-4-yl)phenyl]methanol (3i): Yield 58% (65 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 132 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 3.91 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.55 (d, 3JH-H = 5.8 Hz, 2H, CH2), 5.29 (t, 3JH-H = 5.7 Hz, 1H, OH), 7.40 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.63 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 36.7 (NCH3), 62.8 (CH2), 126.1 (2 CHAr), 127.4 (CAr), 129.1 (2 CHAr), 129.6 (CAr), 136.1 (CAr), 143.0 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C11H10BrN3O3 (312.12): C 42.33, H 3.23, N 13.46; found C 42.34, H 3.11, N 13.33.

1-Methyl-5-nitro-2-4-diphenyl-1H-imidazole (5): Yield 9% using general procedure for the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction (9 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 129 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.00 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.44–7.47 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.54–7.56 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.69–7.72 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.83–7.87 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.2 (NCH3), 128.1 (2 CHAr), 128.3 (CAr), 128.9 (2 CHAr), 129.5 (CHAr), 129.7 (4 CHAr), 130.7 (CHAr), 131.7 (CAr), 135.9 (CAr), 144.2 (CAr), 150.5 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C16H13N3O2 (279.29): C 68.71, H 4.69, N 15.05; found C 68.43, H 4.62, N 14.85.

3.2.3. General Procedure for the One-Pot Regioselective Bis-Suzuki-Miyaura Coupling Reaction

A solution of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2, 0.1 g, 0.35 mmol), 4-methoxy-phenylboronic acid (72 mg, 0.46 mmol, 1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (3 mg, 0.014 mmol, 0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (0.11 g, 1.05 mmol, 3 equiv.), in a DME/EtOH/H2O mixture (3/1/1, 5 mL) was heated at 60 °C under microwave irradiation for 2 h. After cooling, boronic acid (0.45 mmol, 1.3 equiv.), PPh3 (9 mg, 0.035 mmol, 0.1 equiv.), Na2CO3 (0.11 g, 1.05 mmol, 3 equiv.), were introduced under argon. The mixture was heated at 110 °C for 1 h under microwave irradiation. After cooling, 60 mL of water were added and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 50 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (3 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (9/1), (7/3 for 6e), (5/5 for 6j)] and recrystallized from propan-2-ol.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-phenyl-1H-imidazole (6a): Yield 71% (77 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 120 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.99 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.53–7.56 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.68–7.72 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.87 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.3 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 123.9 (CAr), 128.3 (CAr), 128.9 (2 CHAr), 129.7 (2 CHAr), 130.7 (CHAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 135.6 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr), 150.6 (CAr), 160.7 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C17H15N3O3]+: 310.1186; found 310.1185.

2-(4-Fluorophenyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (6b): Yield 70% (80 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 132 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.21–7.28 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.68–7.73 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.85 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.3 (NCH3), 55.4 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 116.3 (d, 2JC-F = 21.6 Hz, 2 CHAr), 123.9 (CAr), 123.6 (CAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 131.9 (d, 3JC-F = 8.7 Hz, 2 CHAr), 144.3 (CAr), 148.9 (CAr), 149.6 (CAr), 160.0 (d, 1JC-F = 272.1 Hz, CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C17H14FN3O3]+: 328.1092; found 328.1093.

2-(4-Chlorophenyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (6c): Yield 60% (72 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 134 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.98 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.53 (d, 3JH-H = 8.7 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.66 (d, 3JH-H = 8.7 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.84 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.3 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 123.8 (CAr), 126.8 (CAr), 129.3 (2 CHAr), 131.0 (2 CHAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 134.8 (CAr), 137.1 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr), 149.4 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C17H14ClN3O3 (343.76): C 59.40, H 4.10, N 12.22; found C 59.16, H 3.82, N 12.31.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-(3-nitrophenyl)-1H-imidazole (6d): Yield 65% (81 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 192 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.03 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.99 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.76 (t, 3JH-H = 8.0 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.85 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 8.06 (d, 3JH-H = 7.7 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.42 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.59 (t, 4JH-H = 1.7 Hz, 1H, Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.3 (NCH3), 55.4 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 123.5 (CAr), 124.6 (CHAr), 125.2 (CHAr), 130.2 (CHAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 135.3 (CHAr), 135.9 (CAr), 144.2 (CAr), 147.7 (CAr), 148.4 (CAr), 156.1 (CAr), 160.9 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C17H14N4O5 (354.32): C 57.63, H 3.98, N 15.81; found C 57.38, H 3.79, N 15.59.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-imidazole (6e): Yield 50% (70 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 158 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.91 (s, 9H, 3 OCH3), 3.98 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.87 (s, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.86 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.4 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 56.4 (2 OCH3), 61.0 (OCH3), 107.0 (2 CHAr), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 123.6 (CAr), 123.9 (CAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 135.6 (CAr), 140.2 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr), 150.7 (CAr), 153.5 (2 CAr), 160.7 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C20H21N3O6 (399.40): C 60.14, H 5.30, N 10.52; found C 59.67, H 5.05, N 10.67.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)-phenyl]-1H-imidazole (6f): Yield 58% (76 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 117 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.00 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.99 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.69 (t, 3JH-H = 7.7 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.81–7.90 (m, 4H, 4 Ar-H), 8.00 (s, 1H, Ar-H). 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.2 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 123.5 (q, 1JC-F = 272.9 Hz, CF3), 123.6 (CAr), 126.7 (q, 3JC-F = 3.7 Hz, CHAr), 127.4 (q, 3JC-F = 3.7 Hz, CHAr), 129.3 (CAr), 129.6 (CHAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 131.7 (q, 2JC-F = 33.0 Hz, CAr), 132.8 (CHAr), 135.8 (CAr), 144.2 (CAr), 148.8 (CAr), 160.9 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C18H14F3N3O3]+: 378.1060; found 378.1058.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-p-tolyl-1H-imidazole (6g): Yield 56% (64 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 136 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 2.45 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.35 (d, 3JH-H = 7.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.58 (d, 3JH-H = 8.2 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.86 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 21.5 (CH3), 36.3 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 124.1 (CAr), 125.5 (CAr), 129.5 (2 CHAr), 129.6 (2 CHAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 135.6 (CAr), 141.1 (CAr), 144.5 (CAr), 150.8 (CAr), 160.7 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C18H17N3O3 (323.35): C 66.86, H 5.30, N 13.00; found C 66.74, H 5.22, N 12.81.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2-(naphthalen-2-yl)-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (6h): Yield 61% (77 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 143 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.05 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.99 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.56–7.64 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.77 (dd, 4JH-H = 1.6 Hz, 3JH-H = 8.5 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.90 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.92–7.96 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 8.01 (d, 3JH-H = 8.5 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.22 (s, 1H, Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.4 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 124.0 (CAr), 125.7 (CAr), 125.9 (CHAr), 127.1 (CHAr), 127.8 (CHAr), 127.9 (CHAr), 128.6 (CHAr), 128.8 (CHAr), 130.2 (CHAr), 131.4 (2 CHAr), 132.8 (CAr), 134.0 (CAr), 135.8 (CAr), 144.4 (CAr), 150.7 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C21H17N3O3 (359.38): C 70.18, H 4.77, N 11.69; found C 70.23, H 4.69, N 11.69.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-2-(5-methylthiophen-2-yl)-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (6i): Yield 52% (60 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 151 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 2.57 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.09 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.86-6.88 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.37 (d, 4JH-H = 3.6 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.85 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 15.4 (CH3), 36.0 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 124.0 (CAr), 126.4 (CHAr), 127.7 (CAr), 129.9 (CHAr), 131.5 (2 CHAr), 135.5 (CAr), 136.8 (CAr), 145.0 (CAr), 145.3 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C16H15N3O3S]+: 330.0907; found 330.0907.

3-[4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl]pyridine (6j): Yield 69% (75 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 152 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.01 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.48–7.53 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 8.84 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 8.04–8.08 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 8.79–8.80 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 8.96 (s, 1H, Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.2 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 123.7 (CHAr), 125.0 (CAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 135.9 (CAr), 137.2 (CHAr), 144.4 (CAr), 147.5 (CAr), 149.9 (CHAr), 151.4 (CHAr), 160.8 (2 CAr). HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C16H14N4O3]+: 311.1139; found 311.1136.

2-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-4-phenyl-1H-imidazole (6): Yield 64% (69 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 128 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.88 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.99 (s, 3H, OCH3), 7.04 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.43–7.48 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.65 (d, 3JH-H = 8.7 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.82–7.86 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.1 (NCH3), 55.5 (OCH3), 114.6 (2 CHAr), 121.0 (CAr), 128.0 (2 CHAr), 129.4 (CHAr), 129.7 (2 CHAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 132.1 (CAr), 136.1 (CAr), 144.2 (CAr), 150.6 (CAr), 161.7 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C17H15N3O3 (309.32): C 66.01, H 4.89, N 13.58; found C 65.98, H 4.75, N 13.42.

2,4-bis(4-methoxypheny)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (7): Yield 9% using general procedure for the one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura coupling reaction (11 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 121 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl324 °C): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.89 (s, 3H, OCH3), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 7.6 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.02 (d, 3JH-H = 8.1 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.65 (d, 3JH-H = 7.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.86 (d, 3JH-H = 7.6 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 36.5 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 55.5 (OCH3), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 114.5 (2 CHAr), 120.5 (CAr), 124.0 (CAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 131.5 (2 CHAr), 135.6 (CAr), 144.5 (CAr), 150.8 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr), 161.6 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C18H17N3O4] 340.1292; found 340.1292.

3.2.4. General Procedure for the One-Pot Regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira Coupling Reaction

A solution of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2, 0.1 g, 0.35 mmol), 4-methoxy-phenylboronic acid (72 mg, 0.46 mmol, 1.3 equiv.), Pd(OAc)2 (3 mg, 0.014 mmol, 0.04 equiv.), Na2CO3 (0.11 g, 1.05 mmol, 3 equiv.), in a DME/EtOH/H2O mixture (3/1/1, 5 mL) was heated at 60 °C under microwave irradiation for 2 h. After cooling, terminal alkynes (0.45 mmol, 1.3 equiv.), PPh3 (9 mg, 0.035 mmol, 0.1 equiv.), CuI (7 mg, 0.035 mmol, 0.1 equiv.), Et3N (0.1 mL, 0.7 mmol, 2 equiv.), were introduced under argon. The mixture was heated at 70 °C for 1 h under microwave irradiation. After cooling, 60 mL of water were added and the solution was extracted with dichloromethane (3 × 50 mL). The organic layer was washed with water (3 × 100 mL), dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated. The crude product was purified by column chromatography [silica gel, petroleum ether/ethyl acetate (10%), (50% for 8g)] and recrystallized from propan-2-ol.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-(phenylethynyl)-1H-imidazole (8a): Yield 67% (78 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 156 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.14 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 8.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.39–7.51 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.64 (d, 3JH-H = 6.6 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 8.82 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.8 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 77.2 (C), 96.5 (C), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 120.3 (CAr), 123.6 (CAr), 128.7 (2 CHAr), 130.3 (CHAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 132.2 (2 CHAr), 134.1 (CAr), 134.4 (CAr), 144.7 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C19H15N3O3 (333.34): C 68.46, H 4.54, N 12.61; found C 68.39, H 4.44, N 12.53.

4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-2-(m-tolylethynyl)-1H-imidazole (8b): Yield 74% (90 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 138 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 2.56 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.14 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.20–7.39 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 7.60 (d, 3JH-H = 8.4 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.81 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 20.9 (CH3), 35.7 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 81.0 (C), 95.6 (C), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 120.2 (CAr), 123.6 (CAr), 126.0 (CHAr), 129.8 (CHAr), 130.3 (CHAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 132.8 (CHAr), 134.1 (CAr), 134.6 (CAr), 141.1 (CAr), 144.7 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C20H17N3O3 (347.37): C 69.15, H 4.93, N 12.10; found C 68.94, H 4.79, N 11.89.

2-[(3-Fluorophenyl)ethynyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8c): Yield 59% (73 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 148 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.13 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.13–7.21 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 7.30–7.42 (m, 3H, 3 Ar-H), 8.80 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.9 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 77.9 (C), 94.8 (d, 4JC-F = 3.2 Hz, C), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 117.7 (d, 2JC-F = 21.1 Hz, CHAr), 119.0 (d, 2JC-F = 23.9 Hz, CHAr), 122.1 (d, 3JC-F = 9.7 Hz, CAr), 123.4 (CAr), 128.1 (d, 4JC-F = 3.2 Hz, CHAr), 130.4 (d, 3JC-F = 8.7 Hz, CHAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 133.9 (CAr), 134.2 (CAr), 144.6 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr), 162.2 (d, 1JC-F = 248.2 Hz, CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C19H14FN3O3 (351.33): C 64.95, H 4.02, N 11.96; found C 64.67, H 3.84, N 11.79.

2-[(4-Methoxy-2-methylphenyl)ethynyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8d): Yield 53% (70 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 182 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 2.53 (s, 3H, CH3), 3.84 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.13 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.74–6.81 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.53 (d, 3JH-H = 8.4 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.81 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 21.1 (CH3), 35.7 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 55.4 (OCH3), 80.1 (C), 96.2 (C), 111.8 (CHAr), 112.3 (CAr), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 115.5 (CHAr), 123.7 (CAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 134.0 (CAr), 134.4 (CHAr), 135.1 (CAr), 143.2 (CAr), 144.8 (CAr), 160.7 (CAr), 161.1 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C21H19N3O4 (377.39): C 66.83, H 5.07, N 11.13; found C 66.56, H 4.91, N 11.10.

2-(Cyclopentylethynyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8e): Yield 60% (69 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 98 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 1.59–1.68 (m, 2H, CH2), 1.73–1.82 (m, 4H, 2 CH2), 2.00–2.10 (m, 2H, CH2), 2.92 (q, 3JH-H = 7.5 Hz, 1H, CH), 3.84 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.01 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.94 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.77 (d, 3JH-H = 9.0 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 25.2 (2 CH2), 30.5 (CH), 33.4 (2 CH2), 35.5 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 68.9 (C), 103.5 (C), 113.4 (2 CHAr), 123.7 (CAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 133.6 (CAr), 134.9 (CAr), 144.4 (CAr), 160.7 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C18H19N3O3 (325.36): C 66.45, H 5.89, N 12.91; found C 66.21, H 5.76, N 12.88.

2-[(4-tert-Butylphenyl)ethynyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8f): Yield 63% (86 mg); yellow oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 1.34 (s, 9H, 3 CH3), 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.12 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.96 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.43 (d, 3JH-H = 8.4 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.56 (d, 3JH-H = 8.4 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.81 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 31.0 (3 CH3), 35.0 (C), 35.7 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 76.8 (C), 96.9 (C), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 117.2 (CAr), 123.6 (CAr), 125.7 (2 CHAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 132.0 (2 CHAr), 134.0 (CAr), 134.6 (CAr), 144.7 (CAr), 153.9 (CAr), 160.7 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C23H23N3O3]+: 390.1812; found 390.1813.

3-[4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl]prop-2-yn-1-ol (8g): Yield 51% (51 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 177 °C. 1H-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 3.81 (s, 3H, NCH3), 3.97 (s, 3H, OCH3), 4.43 (d, 3JH-H = 5.7 Hz, 2H, CH2), 5.67 (t, 3JH-H = 5.8 Hz, 1H, OH), 7.01 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.67 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H). 13C-NMR (DMSO-d6): δ = 35.9 (NCH3), 49.8 (CH2), 55.7 (OCH3), 72.7 (C), 97.5 (C), 113.9 (2 CHAr), 124.1 (CAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 133.6 (CAr), 134.5 (CAr), 143.2 (CAr), 160.6 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C14H13N3O4 (287.27): C 58.53, H 4.56, N 14.63; found C 58.64, H 4.51, N 14.40.

2-[(3-Chlorophenyl)ethynyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8h): Yield 61% (79 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 139 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.86 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.13 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.97 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.32–7.38 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 7.42–7.47 (m, 1H, Ar-H), 7.51 (dt, 4JH-H = 1.4 Hz, 3JH-H = 7.4 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.61 (t, 4JH-H = 1.4 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 8.80 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.8 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 78.2 (C), 94.7 (C), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 122.0 (CAr), 123.4 (CAr), 130.0 (CHAr), 130.3 (CHAr), 130.6 (CHAr), 131.2 (2 CHAr), 131.9 (CHAr), 133.8 (CAr), 134.2 (CAr), 134.6 (CAr), 144.6 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr). Anal. Calcd. for C19H14ClN3O3 (367.79): C 62.05, H 3.84, N 11.43; found C 61.90, H 3.77, N 11.35.

2-[(2-Chlorophenyl)ethynyl]-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8i): Yield 52% (67 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 171 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 3.87 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.19 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.98 (d, 3JH-H = 8.5 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.29–7.42 (m, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.49 (d, 3JH-H = 7.9 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.67 (d, 3JH-H = 7.4 Hz, 1H, Ar-H), 7.80 (d, 3JH-H = 8.7 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.8 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 82.1 (C), 92.8 (C), 113.6 (2 CHAr), 120.7 (CAr), 123.6 (CAr), 126.9 (CHAr), 129.6 (CHAr), 131.2 (CHAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 133.9 (CHAr), 134.0 (CAr), 134.1 (CAr), 136.6 (CAr), 144.6 (CAr), 160.9 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C19H14ClN3O3 (367.79): C 62.05, H 3.84, N 11.43; found C 61.86, H 3.66, N 11.31.

2-(Cyclopropylethynyl)-4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (8j): Yield 63% (66 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 124 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 0.95–1.03 (m, 4H, 2 CH2), 1.50–1.60 (m, 1H, CH), 3.85 (s, 3H, NCH3), 4.02 (s, 3H, OCH3), 6.94 (d, 3JH-H = 8.8 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H), 7.77 (d, 3JH-H = 8.9 Hz, 2H, 2 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 0.2 (CH), 9.3 (2 CH2), 35.5 (NCH3), 55.3 (OCH3), 64.4 (C), 77.2 (C), 102.4 (CAr), 113.5 (2 CHAr), 123.7 (CAr), 131.3 (2 CHAr), 134.7 (CAr), 144.3 (CAr), 160.8 (CAr) ppm. Anal. Calcd. for C16H15N3O3 (297.31): C 64.64, H 5.09, N 14.13; found C 64.46, H 4.92, N 14.22.

1-Methyl-5-nitro-2,4-bis(phenylethynyl)-1H-imidazole (9): Yield 10% using general procedure for the one-pot regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira coupling reaction (12 mg); yellow solid; M.p. 166 °C. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 4.14 (s, 3H, NCH3), 7.38–7.48 (m, 6H, 6 Ar-H), 7.61–7.66 (m, 4H, 4 Ar-H) ppm. 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ = 35.6 (NCH3), 76.7 (C), 81.0 (C), 96.8 (C), 97.1 (C), 120.0 (CAr), 121.7 (CAr), 127.7 (CAr), 128.5 (2 CHAr), 128.7 (2 CHAr), 129.6 (CHAr), 130.5 (CHAr), 132.2 (2 CHAr), 132.3 (2 CHAr), 133.5 (CAr), 135.1 (CAr) ppm. HRMS (ESI) m/z [M + H]+ calcd. for [C20H13N3O2]+: 328.1081; found 328.1081.

3.2.5. Crystal Data for Compound 3c

2(C11H7BrF3N3O2), M = 700.21, a = 8.4376(4) Å, b = 12.5416(6) Å, c = 12.6319(5) Å, α = 82.406(4)°, β = 73.324(4)°, γ = 80.384(4)°, V = 1257.48(10) Å3, T = 293 K, space group P Z = 2, 14503 reflections measured, 5058 independent reflections (R = 0.0184). The final R1 values were 0.0320 (I > 2σ(I)). The final wR(F2) values were 0.0689 (I > 2σ(I)). The final R values were 0.0469 (all data). The final wR(F2) values were 0.0752 (all data). The goodness of fit on F2 was 1.007. CCDC 1542022 contains the supplementary crystallographic data for this paper. These data can be obtained free of charge at www.cdcc.cam.ac.uk/data_request/cif of from the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre, 12, Union Road, Cambridge CB2 1EZ, UK; Fax: + 44 (1223) 336033; email: deposit@ccdc.cam.ac.uk.

Figures S1–S66: 1H- and 13C-NMR of all compounds 3a–i, 5, 6a–j, 6, 7, 8a–j and 9.

3.3. Biology

3.3.1. In Vitro Antibacterial Activity

Bacterial strains: the bacteria tested were obtained from the bacteriology laboratory of IHU Mediterranée Infection (Marseille, France). Each bacterium was cultured in anaerobic condition on 5% sheep blood-enriched Columbia agar (Biomérieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France), incubated at 37 °C for 48 h. The derivatives were dissolved in DMSO stock solution: 500 µg/mL. Thereafter, in a sterile medium and in a logarithmic growth phase, a concentration of 1 McFarland (3.108 CFU/mL) was obtained using a spectrophotometer. First, in the 5% sheep blood-enriched Columbia agar medium, the superficial bacterial culture was performed with a swab impregnated with the bacterial suspension. Then, 10 µL of each derivative were deposited on blank sterile discs. For the negative control, the DMSO-impregnated disc was used. After 48 h of incubation, the growth inhibition zone diameter was measured.

3.3.2. In Vitro Antiparasitic Activity

For Trichomonas vaginalis the MIC was carried out in a sterile 96-well plate by broth microdilution according to EUCAST guidelines, and using LYI medium. First, 190 µL of the LYI broth medium, was added to each well. Then, 10 µL of each imidazole derivative with the primary concentration 200 µg/mL was added to the first wells. After mixing, 100 µL of this mixture was embedded into the second well. A similar dilution procedure was carried out in the first wells line for metronidazole as control group. 100 µL of the trichomonas suspension (105 cells/mL) was added to each well. For negative control, 200 µL of LYI broth medium were added to the border wells. The plates were incubated under anaerobic conditions 24 h at 37 °C.

3.3.3. In Vitro Cytotoxicity Evaluation

Principle of the Assay

The NRU toxicity test is based on concentration-dependent reduction of the uptake of the vital dye Neutral Red measured 24 h after chemical treatment. Neutral red is a weak cationic dye that readily penetrates cell membranes by non-diffusion, accumulating intracellularly in lysosomes. Alterations of the cell surface or the sensitive lysosomal membrane lead to lysosomal fragility and other changes that gradually become irreversible. Such changes brought about by the action of xenobiotics result in a decreased uptake and binding of NR in non-viable cells.

Cell Line

CHO-K1 Chinese Hamster Ovary cells (ATCC CCL61), low passage number (<50).

Culture Medium

Mc Coy’s medium supplemented with penicillin 100 UI/mL and steptomycin 100 μg/mL, and 10% of inactivated calf serum, pΗ 7.2, freshly prepared, stored no longer than 1 week.

Test Procedure

Cells were seeded into two 96-well tissue culture plates (0.1 mL per well), at a concentration of 1.105 cells/mL, and incubated at 37 °C (5% CΟ2) for 24 h until confluent. The culture medium was decanted and replaced by 100 µL of fresh medium containing the appropriate concentrations of the test substances (8 different concentrations in triplicate), then cells were incubated at 37 °C (5% CO2) in the dark for 24 h. At the end of the incubation period, cells were washed, placed into Neutral Red medium (50 μg/mL Neutral Red in complete medium) and incubated for 3 h at 37 °C, 5% CO2. Then, the medium was removed and cells were washed three times with 0.2 mL of PBS to remove excess dye. The Neutral Red medium was removed and the distaining solution (50% ethanol, 1% acetic acid, 49% distilled water; 50 µL per well) was added into the wells. Then, the plates were shaken for 15–20 min at room temperature in the dark. The degree of membrane damage (i.e., the increase of released Neutral Red) was measured by a fluorescence-luminescence reader. The Optical Density (OD) of each well was read at 540 nm. The results obtained for wells treated with the test material were compared to those of untreated control wells (100% viability) and converted to percentage values.

Calculation of CC50

The mean OD value of blank wells (containing only Neutral Red desorbed solution) was subtracted from the mean OD value of three treated wells (dilutions of the test material, positive control or HBSS). The percentages of cell viability were calculated as:

The concentration of the test substances causing a 50% release of Neutral Red as compared to the control culture was calculated by non-linear regression analysis using the Phototox Version 2.0 software (Zebet, Berlin, Germany).

4. Conclusions

In summary, we describe here a novel and efficient method to access 2,4-disubstituted 5-nitro-imidazole derivatives under microwave irradiation. We have developed original one-pot regioselective bis-Suzuki-Miyaura or Suzuki-Miyaura/Sonogashira reactions of 2,4-dibromo-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole (2) allowing the functionalization at both C-2 and C-4 positions of this scaffold. Moreover, this method tolerates a wide range of boronic acids and terminal alkynes and provides versatile and rapid access to 2,4-disubstituted 5-nitroimidazole derivatives in moderate to good yields. The synthesized products were tested for their antimicrobial activities and compared with the standard metronidazole. Compounds obtained with the regioselective Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, bearing a bromine in 2-position and aryl or hetero aryl group in 4-position (compounds 3b, 3e–i), showed an equivalent activity to metronidazole against anaerobic bacteria, and higher activity against T. vaginalis.