1,2,3-Triazole-derived naphthalimides as a novel type of potential antimicrobial agents: Synthesis, antimicrobial activity, interaction with calf thymus DNA and human serum albumin

A series of 1,2,3-triazole-derived naphthalimides as a novel type of potential antimicrobial agents were synthesized and characterized by IR, NMR and HRMS spectra. All the new compounds were screened for their antimicrobial activity against four Gram-positive bacteria, four Gram-negative bacteria and three fungi. Bioactive assay manifested that 3,4-dichlorobenzyl compound 9e and its corresponding hydrochloride 11e showed better anti-Escherichia coli activity than Norfloxacin and Chloromycin. Preliminary research revealed that compound 9e could effectively intercalate into calf thymus DNA to form compound 9e-DNA complex which might block DNA replication and thus exert antimicrobial activities. Human serum albumin could effectively store and carry compound 9e by electrostatic interaction. (C) 2013 Published by Elsevier Ltd.