Synthesis and biological activity of some heterocyclic compounds containing benzimidazole and beta-lactam moiety

A number of 1N-substituted-2-methyl benzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized and tested for their antibacterial activities. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds were verified on the basis of spectral and elemental methods of analyses. Investigation of antimicrobial activity of the compounds was done by disc diffusion method using Gram-positive (S. aureus, S. mutans and B. subtilis), Gram-negative (E. coli, S. typhi and P. aeruginosa) bacteria and fungi (C. albicans, A. flavus and A. niger). Among the compounds tested 5a, 5b, 5d, 5i, 5j and 5k exhibited good antibacterial activities against Gram positive bacteria, while 5d and 5i also showed notable antifungal activity. Specially compounds 5a and 5b exhibited appreciable activity against S. aureus and B. subtilis comparable to reference drugs.