Discovery of hybrids of indolin-2-one and nitroimidazole as potent inhibitors against drug-resistant bacteria

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2018 Oct;71(10):887-897. doi: 10.1038/s41429-018-0076-5. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Abstract

With antibiotics resistance developing rapidly, new antibacterial agents are needed to be discovered. We readily synthesized 11 indolin-2-one compounds and found a hybrid of indolin-2-one and nitroimidazole 3-((1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene)indolin-2-one to be effective on Staphylococcus aureus strains. Six derivatives of this compound were further designed and synthesized in order to enhance its efficacy. After a second turn of structural refinement, a novel hybrid of indolin-2-one and nitroimidazole 3-((1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)methylene)-5-nitroindolin-2-one with a nitro group on C-5 position of indolin-2-one was shown to exhibit remarkable antibacterial activities with a low MIC value against MRSA ATCC 33591. Besides, this molecule demonstrated its potency on Gram-negative bacteria and VRE strain. The time-killing curve experiment showed its good bactericidal activity. Low hemolytic rate suggested its promising safety profile.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Indoles / chemistry*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nitroimidazoles / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Indoles
  • Nitroimidazoles
  • indolin-2-one