Synthesis of novel bisindolylmethane Schiff bases and their antibacterial activity

Molecules. 2014 Aug 6;19(8):11722-40. doi: 10.3390/molecules190811722.

Abstract

In an effort to develop new antibacterial drugs, some novel bisindolylmethane derivatives containing Schiff base moieties were prepared and screened for their antibacterial activity. The synthesis of the bisindolylmethane Schiff base derivatives 3-26 was carried out in three steps. First, the nitro group of 3,3'-((4-nitrophenyl)-methylene)bis(1H-indole) (1) was reduced to give the amino substituted bisindolylmethane 2 without affecting the unsaturation of the bisindolylmethane moiety using nickel boride in situ generated. Reduction of compound 1 using various catalysts showed that combination of sodium borohydride and nickel acetate provides the highest yield for compound 2. Bisindolylmethane Schiff base derivatives were synthesized by coupling various benzaldehydes with amino substituted bisindolylmethane 2. All synthesized compounds were characterized by various spectroscopic methods. The bisindolylmethane Schiff base derivatives were evaluated against selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Derivatives having halogen and nitro substituent display weak to moderate antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi A and S. paratyphi B.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antifungal Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Benzaldehydes / chemical synthesis
  • Benzaldehydes / chemistry
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Gram-Positive Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemical synthesis
  • Indoles / chemistry*
  • Nitrophenols / chemical synthesis
  • Nitrophenols / chemistry
  • Schiff Bases / administration & dosage
  • Schiff Bases / chemical synthesis
  • Schiff Bases / chemistry*
  • Triazoles / chemical synthesis
  • Triazoles / chemistry

Substances

  • 1,1-bis(3'-indolyl)methane
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Benzaldehydes
  • Indoles
  • Nitrophenols
  • Schiff Bases
  • Triazoles
  • 4-nitrophenyl
  • indole