Design, synthesis and structural study of novel acetamidobenzanilide derivatives

Diamides and bisamides are compounds known for their antifungal and antitumor activities. Benzanilide derivatives, containing an acetamido moiety in particular, have not been extensively studied to-date. We present a straightforward synthesis of novel N-(2-[N´-phenyl-N´-acetamidomethyl])benzanilide derivatives from 2-nitrobenzaldehyde, achieved through a four-step process. The conversions were achieved in good to excellent yields, and the overall yields were deemed acceptable. These compounds were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, which revealed that several of them exhibited detectable atropisomerism.