Multicomponent Solvent-free Synthesis, Antibacterial Evaluation and QSAR Study of 2-(Bis(benzylthio)methylene)malononitriles

Abstract

Multicomponent reaction of malononitrile, carbon disulphide and various benzyl halides was developed as an efficient strategy for the synthesis of 2-(bis(benzylthio)methylene)malononitrile derivatives via two different procedures: (a) in the presence of K₂CO₃ as a base in acetonitrile and (b) under solvent-free conditions in the presence of triethylamine. Higher yields with shorter reaction times were obtained from the latter procedure. Inhibitory activity of all derivatives was evaluated against 22 pathogenic bacteria including both Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. Thioether 4b showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activities according to the antibiogram tests. DFT calculations (B3LYP/6-311++G**) were performed to determine the type of drug–receptor interactions. It was found that reversible dipole–dipole forces play a key role in most interactions.