Unlocking the potential of trifluoromethyl pyrrole derivatives in chronic wounds management: rapid synthesis, structural insights, and potent antimicrobial activity

Using a one-pot, three-component approach, we synthesised 25 dihydropyrrol-2-one and two 5-oxo-2,5-dihydrofuran compounds, each featuring two trifluoromethyl groups. This method emphasises timeliness and cost-effectiveness, crucial in drug development. Structural verification was conducted using NMR, FT-IR, MALDI-MS, single-crystal, and powder XRD. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these compounds were evaluated on yeasts (<i>Candida</i> sp.) and bacteria, including Gram-positive (<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, a significant opportunistic pathogen, being more susceptible than <i>S. epidermidis</i>) and Gram-negative strains. Compounds with <i>o</i>-OH and <i>m</i>'-NO₂ groups exhibited superior activity, while those with <i>p</i>-OH and <i>m</i>-OMe groups showed slightly lower but still significant activity. For furan structures, <i>Candida albicans</i> displayed greater sensitivity than <i>C. parapsilosis</i>. Additionally, 13 compounds demonstrated haemolysis below 5%, indicating low toxicity.