Synthesis and characterization of halogenated bis(acylthiourea) derivatives and their antibacterial activities

A total of 12 bis(acylthiourea) derivatives with different pharmacophores have been synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reaction of benzene-1,4-dicarbonyl isothiocyanate intermediate with aromatic amine bearing halogens at the ortho, meta and para positions. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by CHN elemental analysis, FT-IR, H-1 NMR and C-13 NMR spectroscopies. Antibacterial studies of the compounds via the Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli (E. coli) ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) S48/81 demonstrated that bis(acylthiourea) N-1, N-4-bis[(2-chlorophenyl) carbamothioyl] terephthalamide (4) and N-1, N-4-bis[(2-bromophenyl) carbamothioyl] terephthalamide (7) bearing Cl and Br at the ortho position exhibited excellent activities against both bacteria strains compared to ampicillin standard.