New potent antifungal triazole alcohols containing N-benzylpiperazine carbodithioate moiety: Synthesis, in vitro evaluation and in silico study

Abstract

A number of 1H-1,2,4-triazole alcohols containing N-(halobenzyl)piperazine carbodithioate moiety have been designed and synthesized as potent antifungal agents. In vitro bioassays against different Candida species including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, and C. tropicalis revealed that the N-(4-chlorobenzyl) derivative (6b) with MIC values of 0.063–0.5 µg/mL had the best profile of activity, being 4–32 times more potent than fluconazole. Docking simulation studies confirmed the better fitting of compound 6b in the active site of lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) enzyme, the main target of azole antifungals. Particularly, the potential of compound 6b against fluconazole-resistant isolates along with its minimal toxicity against human erythrocytes and HepG2 cells make this prototype compound as a good lead for discovery of potent and safe antifungal agents.