Synthesis and evaluation of novel benzene-ethanol bearing 1,2,4-triazole derivatives as potential antimicrobial agents

The azole pharmacophore is still regarded as a viable lead structure for the synthesis of more efficacious and broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents. In this study, a novel series of triazole derivates that are structurally related to the famous antimicrobial azole pharmacophore were synthesized and the structures of them were characterized by spectral (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and MS spectra) analysis. Antimicrobial activity was measured against both bacteria and fungus. In vitro antimicrobial evaluation showed that five compounds had growth inhibitory effects on the tested Gram-positive bacteria and fungus with special efficacy. Potential antibacterial and antifungal activities are incorporated in these triazole compounds. Results of antimicrobial activities also revealed that compounds (5a–i) were the potent antibacterial and antifungal agents as compared to standard drugs (ciprofloxacin and itraconazole), and thus could be promising new lead molecules.