title: Studies on the biological activity of some nitrothiophenes.
abstract: The biological activity of nineteen substituted thiophenes (3) have been assessed by evaluating the minimum inhibitory concentration required to inhibit the growth of E. coli, M. luteus and A. niger. The series displays a wide range of activities with 2-chloro-3,5-dinitrothiophene (3a) or 2-bromo-3,5-dinitrothiophene (3c) showing the highest activity against all three organisms, while the simplest compound of the series, 2-nitrothiophene (3s) shows the smallest activity in each case. The mode of action of 3a and 3c is thought to involve nucleophilic attack by intracellular thiols at the 2-position of the heterocyclic ring leading to displacement of halogen, but other active derivatives, such as 2,4-dinitrothiophene (3h) and 5-nitrothiophene-2-carbaldehyde (3d) which have no displaceable halogen or leaving group are thought to act by forming Meisenheimer complexes.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry Department, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, UKSA2 8PP.
authors.forename: John O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Morley
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000187:drug effects; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D009574:Nitro Compounds; D013876:Thiophenes