title: In vitro biological studies and structural elucidation of fluoro-substituted phenyl acrylic acids.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Synthesis, characterization, and biological significance of different substituted phenyl acrylic acids have been studied. These acids are contributing a key role during synthesis of antimicrobial drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  The acids were prepared by condensation of various substituted phenyl acetic acids and aldehydes. o-piperonal was prepared using 2,3-methylenedioxy benzaldehyde. These phenyl acrylic acids were characterized by using analytical techniques, for example, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C NMR), and GC-MS. The structure of crystalline products was also elucidated by X-ray crystallography. Small intermolecular and intramolecular weaker interactions were also studied by these characterization techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The geometry of compounds in solid and solution state has been studied. The presence of weaker interactions in these molecules is also observed which may increase the hydrolysis and lipophilicity and ultimately improve the activity against different microbes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The effect of different groups attached to the main rings and the presence of smaller interaction have been studied. Their factors may enhance the activity of these compounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mukhtiar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanif
authors.forename: Saqib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: Tahira
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanderveer
authors.lastname: Aziz-ur-Rehman
mesh_terms: D000179:Acrylates / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019800:Phenol / Q000737:chemistry; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects*; D012996:Solutions; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D000179:Acrylates; D000447:Aldehydes; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012996:Solutions; D019800:Phenol