Development of New Amides Based on Acridine: Synthesis, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, and Molecular Docking Evaluation

The ongoing endeavor to synthesize new antibacterial compounds is essential in overcoming bacterial resistance, as this poses a serious threat to the survival of the human race. This research work aimed to synthesize new amide derivatives of fused imidazole and acridines due to their high potential and remarkable biological history. To accomplish this objective, various derivatives of 3H-imidazo[4,5-a] acridines were prepared and then transformed into new amide derivatives under acidic conditions. The novel compounds were characterized based on spectral analysis, including FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectra, along with additional analytical data. Antibacterial testing was conducted on the compounds, assessing their activity against a variety of bacterial strains, encompassing both gram-negative and gram-positive species. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values were recorded. The findings of the antimicrobial screening tests demonstrated that the compounds exhibit a high level of efficacy against both bacterial strains. Their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) values are similar to well-known antibacterial agents such as Ciprofloxacin. Additionally, the compounds exhibited cytostatic properties in the higher micromolar range. By utilizing the molecular docking method, the binding sites of compounds with the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme were determined.