Design, synthesis, antimicrobial evaluation and in silico studies of symmetrical bis (urea-1,2,3-triazole) hybrids

Abstract

In search of 1,2,3-triazole-based antimicrobials, some symmetrical bis(urea-1,2,3-triazole) hybrids were synthesized via clicked Huisgen cycloaddition. The structural characterization was done by different physical and spectral techniques like NMR, FTIR and HRMS. In vitro antimicrobial evaluation of all the synthesized compounds was performed against three bacterial strains (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis) and two fungal strains (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans). All the synthesized urea-linked bis(1,2,3-triazole) hybrids (4a–4o) were found to exhibit higher potency than their alkyne precursors (3a–3c). Also, all the synthesized hybrids elicited better antifungal activity than the reference drug Fluconazole against both the fungal strains. Compound 4e and 4o were found to be more potent toward C. albicans with lowest MIC values 0.0112 µmol/mL and 0.0105 µmol/mL, respectively. The docking studies of compounds 4e and 4o and their respective alkynes 3b and 3c were carried out in the active site of sterol 14-α-demethylase of C. albicans.