Synthesis and antifungal activity of 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methylphenyl ethanone derivatives against phytopathogenic fungi in vitro

In an endeavor to pinpoint the structural constituents vital for the biological activity of 2,4-dihydroxy-5-methylphenyl ethanone, a series of its ether derivatives was synthesized and examined for their antifungal activities against five notable phytopathogenic fungi. The bioassay revealed that compounds 2, 3a, 3g, 3j and 3k manifested a broad spectrum of antifungal efficacy. Notably, compound 3g was identified as especially potent, with IC50 values ranging from 16.52 to 37.52 μg/mL, outperforming the standard thiabendazole. The data underscore compound 3g as a prospective candidate for the development of an innovative antifungal agent. A comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) study of the acetophenones was also conducted.