SYNTHESIS AND CHEMISTRY OF SOME NEW 2-MERCAPTOIMIDAZOLE DERIVATIVES OF POSSIBLE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY

4,5-Diaryl-2,3-dihydro-2-mercaptoimidazoles (2a–e) were synthesized. They reacted with chloroacetic acid in gl. acetic acid/Ac ₂ O in presence of anhyd. sodium acetate afforded 5,6-diaryl-2,3-dihydro-imidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-3-ones (3a–d). Also these compounds were prepared by the action of chloroacetyl chloride on compounds (2) in pyridine. Compounds (3a–d) on condensation with aromatic aldehydes yield 2-arylmethylene-5,6-diaryl-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]-thiazol-3-ones (4a–q). The latter compounds were prepared directly by the reaction of (2) with chloroacetic acid and the aromatic aldehydes. Compounds (3a–d) coupled with aryldiazonium salts in pyridine to give 2-arylhydrazono-5,6-diaryl-2,3-dihydroimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-3-ones (5a–r). Also compounds (2) when reacted with 2 or 3-bromopropionic acid afford 2,3-di-hydro-5,6-diaryl-2-methylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-3-ones (6a–d) and 2,3-di-hydro-6,7-diaryl imidazo-[2,1-b]-1,3-thiazin-4-ones (7a–d), respectively. Compounds (3, 6, and 7) have been cleaved by aromatic amines to give the corresponding 2-(4′,5′-diaryl-2′,3′-dihydroimidazol-2′-yl)thioacetanilide (8a–f), 2-(2′,3′-dihydro-4′,5′-diaryl imidazol-2′-yl)thiopropionamide (9a–c), and 3-(2′,3′-dihydro-4′,5′-diaryl-imidazol-2′-yl)thiopropionamide (10a–d) respectively. All the prepared compounds show considerable antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeast, and fungi.