Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of amino organophosphorus imidazoles as a new type of potential antimicrobial agents

A series of amino organophosphorus imidazoles were designed and synthesized as a novel structural type of antimicrobial agents. Bioactive evaluation in vitro showed that compound 3f exhibited equipotent or superior anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (anti-MRSA) and anti-S. cerevisiae efficiencies (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)=2 μg/mL) to clinical drugs, and the combinations with antibacterial or antifungal drugs enhanced the antimicrobial efficiency. Highly active molecule 3f showed low propensity for bacteria to develop resistance, and the preliminary action mechanism studies demonstrated that 3f was membrane-active, but had no significant intercalation towards MRSA DNA. The computational study on 3f reasonably explained its high antimicrobial activity. Experimental data revealed that ground-state 3f-HSA complexes were formed mainly through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds with a spontaneous process, and the non-radioactive energy transfer from HSA to 3f occurred beyond Förster resonance energy transfer theory. The participation of metal ions in 3f-HSA supramolucular system could increase the concentration of free compound 3f, and shorten its storage time and half-life in the blood to improve the maximum antimicrobial efficacy.