Solvent‐Free Sonochemical Synthesis and Antifungal Activity of 1‐Alkyl‐3‐Methylimidazolium Bromide [RMIM]Br Ionic Liquids |
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| Authors: | Ser John Lynon P Perez Susan D Arco |
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| Affiliation: | Institute of Chemistry, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 |
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| Abstract: | In view of the continuous threat of opportunistic fungal infections to human health and the emerging importance of ionic liquids in therapeutic applications, we report the efficient one‐pot synthesis of a series of 1‐alkyl‐3‐methylimidazolium bromide RMIM]Br ionic liquids through an ultrasound‐assisted reaction of 1‐methylimidazole and alkyl bromides (RBr) under solvent‐free conditions. High product yields were obtained for all syntheses (>95%) under mild conditions (2‐5 hours at 20‐40 °C). The success of the synthetic method was confirmed through 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR and FT‐IR spectroscopy. All products exhibited activity against the fungus C. albicans with clotrimazole and water as positive and negative controls, respectively. At a concentration of 1%, OMIM]Br IL exhibited an antimycotic activity with an index of 1.5 which is comparable to that of 1% clotrimazole having an antimicrobial index of 1.3, signifying the potential of the product as a fungal growth inhibitor. Structure‐Activity Relationship (SAR) studies showed that an increase in the alkyl chain length corresponds to an increase in the antifungal activity of the ionic liquids. |
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| Keywords: | Solvent‐free Sonochemical Ionic liquid Antifungal C albicans |
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