Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Binding Studies of Some Novel Diaryl Sulphide Derivatives

Abstract

A series of novel acyclic and cyclic diaryl sulphides was synthesized from 2,2′-dithiobenzoic acid. The various diaryl sulphides were characterized by use of spectral (IR, ¹H and ¹³C NMR, ESI/MS) and elemental analyses. The antimicrobial activities of the compounds were evaluated in terms of their minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) against a panel of clinical isolates bacteria and were found to possess only moderate antimicrobial activities. N,N′-Bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2′-thiodibenzamide (13), exhibiting a hydroxy group at the phenyl ring, was the most active antimicrobial agent within the series, with MIC values of 0.05 mg mL^–1 and 10 mg mL^–1 against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, respectively. The antioxidant efficiency of the diaryl sulphides was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity with 13 being the most active compound. The interaction of 2,2′-thiodibenzanilide, N,N′-bis(2-methylphenyl)-2,2′-thiodibenzamide, and N,N′-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-2,2′-thiobenzamide with guanine, glutamic acid, and urea were studied quantitatively with binding constants ranging from 1 × 10³ M⁻¹ to 2.7 × 10⁴ M⁻¹.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Diaryl sulphides
• benzamides
• antibacterial
• antioxidant
• binding constants

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the help of the Candos Hospital for providing the clinical isolates. One of the authors is grateful to the Tertiary Education Commission of Mauritius for financial assistance.