Diguanidino and "reversed" diamidino 2,5-diarylfurans as antimicrobial agents

J Med Chem. 2001 May 24;44(11):1741-8. doi: 10.1021/jm000413a.

Abstract

Dicationic 2,5-bis(4-guanidinophenyl)furans 5a-5f, 2,5-bis[4-(arylimino)aminophenyl]furans 6a-6b and 6e-6k, and 2,5-bis[4-(alkylimino)aminophenyl]furans 6c-6d have been synthesized starting from 2,5-bis[tri-n-butylstannyl]furan. Thermal melting studies with poly dA*dT and the duplex oligomer d(CGCGAATTCGCG)2 demonstrated high DNA binding affinities for a number of the compounds. The binding affinities are highly dependent on structure and are significantly affected by substituents both on the phenyl rings of the 2,5-diphenylfuran nucleus and on the cationic centers. Of the 17 novel dicationic compounds synthesized, six (6a, 6b, 5b, 6f, 6h, 6i) exhibited MICs of 2 microg/mL or less versus Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Of the compounds screened against Candida albicans, three gave MICs of 2 microg/mL or less (5b, 6h, 6i), and two (5b, 6i) were fungicidal, unlike a standard antifungal drug fluconazole, which was fungistatic. In addition, one of the tested compounds (6i) exhibited a MIC of <1 microg/mL against Aspergillus fumigatus, while also being a fungicidal against this organism. Finally, when evaluated against an expanded fungal panel, compound 6h showed good activity against Cryptococcus neoformans and Rhizopus arrhizus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amidines / chemical synthesis*
  • Amidines / chemistry
  • Amidines / pharmacology
  • Aminopyridines / chemical synthesis*
  • Aminopyridines / chemistry
  • Aminopyridines / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • DNA / chemistry
  • Furans / chemical synthesis*
  • Furans / chemistry
  • Furans / pharmacology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / drug effects
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • 2,5-bis(2-methoxy-4-(2-pyridylimino)aminophenyl)furan
  • 2,5-bis(2-methyl-4-(5-methyl-2-pyridyimino)aminophenyl)furan
  • Amidines
  • Aminopyridines
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Furans
  • DNA