Derivatives of 2-amino-4-(furan-2-yl)pyridine-3-carbonitriles as promising antistaphylococcal drugs

Introduction. Furan-containing compounds frequently demonstrate antimicrobial properties. While pyridine-based compounds alone lack antimicrobial activity, their structural combination with a furan moiety presents a promising approach for designing novel antimicrobial agents. Aim. This study aims to synthesize hybrid molecules incorporating both furan and aminopyridine fragments and evaluate their antimicrobial potential. Materials and methods. We prepared a series of 5,6-substituted 2-amino-4-(2-furyl)pyridine-3-carbonitriles via a one-pot multicomponent reaction using furfural, malononitrile, ammonium acetate, and selected ketones. Results and Discussion. The synthesized compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , and the yeast-like fungus Candida utilis . Structure-activity relationship analysis revealed that substituents at the 5- and 6-positions critically influence antibacterial potency. Conclusion. We successfully developed a novel series of 2-amino-5,6-dialkyl-4-(furan-2-yl)pyridine-3-carbonitriles and characterized their in vitro antimicrobial effects, identifying key structural features for enhanced activity.