Synthesis and antibacterial and antifungal activities of N-(tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones of substituted 4-formylsydnones

BACKGROUND Sydnone is a heterocycle that exhibits remarkable pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antioxidant activities. Thiosemicarbazones are of compounds that contain the -NHCSNHN=C< linkage group and are considerable interest because they exhibit important chemical properties and potentially beneficial biological activities. Similarly, thiosemicarbazones having carbohydrate moieties also exhibit various significant biological activities. RESULTS The compounds of 3-formyl-4-phenylsydnones were obtained by Vilsmeyer-Haack's formylation reaction and were transformed into thiosemicarbazones by condensation reaction with N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazide. Reaction were performed in the presence glacial acetic acid as catalyst using microwave-assisted heating method. Reaction yields were 43‒85 %. The antimicrobial activities of these thiosemicarbazones were screened in vitro by using agar well diffusion and MIC methods. Among these thiosemicarbazones, compounds 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n were more active against all tested bacterial strains, especially against S. epidermidis, B. subtilis and E. coli. The MIC values in these cases are 0.156, 0.156 and 0.313 μg/mL, respectively. All compounds showed weak to moderate antifungal activity against C. albicans and A. niger than nystatin (MIC = 0.156‒0.625 μg/mL vs. MIC = 0.078 μg/mL of nystatin), and thiosemicarbazones 4l, 4m and 4n exhibited significant activity with MIC = 0.156 μg/mL. These compounds also had good antifungal activity against F. oxysporum similarly to nystatin (MIC = 0.156 μg/mL). Among the tested compounds having halogen group 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n showed highest activity against three strains of fungal organisms. CONCLUSIONS In summary, we have developed a clean and efficient methodology for the synthesis of novel thiosemicarbazone derivatives bearing sydnone ring and d-glucose moiety; the heterocyclic and monosaccharide system being connected via ‒NH‒C(=S)NH‒N=C< linker using molecular modification approach. The methodology could be further extended and used for the synthesis of other thiosemicarbazones of biological importance. 4-Formyl-3-arylsydnone N-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones have been synthesized under microwave-assisted heating conditions. Almost all obtained compounds showed remarkable activities against the tested microorganisms. Among the tested compounds having halogen group 4k, 4l, 4m and 4n showed highest activity against all tested strains of bacterial and fungal organisms. Graphical abstract:Synthesis and antibacterial and antifungal activities of N-(tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)thiosemicarbazones of substituted 4-formylsydnones.