Design, synthesis, molecular properties and antimicrobial activities of some novel 2(3H) pyrrolone derivatives

In continuation of our research on nitrogen containing heterocyclic compounds to develop potent antimicrobial and antimycobacterial agents, some novel 2(3H) pyrrolone derivatives were synthesized. We report here two new series of 3-Arylidene-5-(4-chloro/methyl phenyl)-2(3H) pyrrolones (14-19) and 3-Arylidene-5-(4-chloro/methyl phenyl)-1-benzyl-2(3H) pyrrolones (20-25) prepared by reacting intermediate furanone compounds (6-13) with ammonia gas and benzylamine respectively. The structures of the title compounds were established on the basis of IR, 1 H NMR, mass spectral data and elemental analysis results. All the synthesized pyrrolone deriv- atives were evaluated for their possible antibacterial, antifungal and antitubercular activities. Among all the synthesized compounds, compound 17, 3-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)-5- (4-chlorophenyl)-2(3H)-pyrrolone, emerged as a lead compound exhibiting the highest antibacterial, antifungal and antitubercular activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Mycobacterium tuberculosis with 6.25 lg/mL MIC (minimum