An efficient route for synthesis of 5,6‐diphenylimidazo‐[2,1‐b]thiazoles as antibacterial agents

The reaction of 4,5‐diphenylimidazol‐2‐thione ( 1 ) with aromatic ketones 2a‐i using the acidified acetic acid method afforded the 4,5‐diphenyl(2‐imidazolylthio)acetophenones 3a‐h in good yields. While, the cyclized product 4i was obtained directly upon reaction of 1 with α‐acetyl naphthalene. Compounds 3a‐h were cyclized directly to the corresponding 3‐aryl‐5,6‐diphenylimidazo2,1‐b]thiazoles (4a‐c) and ( 4e‐h ). In the same manner the reaction of 1 with aliphatic and/or alicyclic ketones gave the 3‐(4,5‐diphenyl‐2‐imidazolylthio)acetone derivatives 5a‐d , 2‐(4,5‐diphenylimidazolylthio)cycloalkanones 8a,d and the tricyclic compounds 9b‐c respectively. The cyclized compounds 6a‐d and 9a,d were obtained by cyclization of 5a‐d and 8a,b respectively. Oxidation of 1 gives the corresponding bis(4,5‐diphenyl‐2‐imidazolyl)‐disulfide ( 10 ) in 90% yield. Some of the synthesized compounds were tested for antifungal and antibacterial activity.