Green synthesis of novel quinoxaline sulfonamides with antibacterial activity

A facile and efficient method was investigated for the synthesis of different quinoxalines by the reaction of o-phenylene diamine and 2-bromoacetophenones. This procedure was carried out in ethanol under catalyst-free conditions. Several sulfonamides were synthesized from 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-quinoxaline in two steps. At first chlorosulfonation of 2-(4-methoxyphenyl) quinoxaline was done using chlorosulfonic acid and led to 2-methoxy-5-quinoxalin-2-yl-benzenesulfonyl chloride. Then quinoxaline sulfonamides were synthesized by the reaction of quinoxaline sulfonyl chloride with different aromatic amines under solvent-free conditions. All the products were obtained in excellent yields after an easy work-up and were evaluated for antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli bacteria.