Synthesis of 3-Aryl-3-(Furan-2-yl)Propanoic Acid Derivatives, and Study of Their Antimicrobial Activity

Abstract

Reactions of 3-(furan-2-yl)propenoic acids and their esters with arenes in Brønsted superacid TfOH affords products of hydroarylation of the carbon–carbon double bond, 3-aryl-3-(furan-2-yl)propenoic acid derivatives. According to NMR and DFT studies, the corresponding O,C-diprotonated forms of the starting furan acids and esters should be reactive electrophilic species in these transformations. Starting compounds and their hydroarylation products, at a concentration of 64 µg/mL, demonstrate good antimicrobial activity against yeast-like fungi Candida albicans. Apart from that, these compounds suppress Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Keywords

• furans
• Friedel–Crafts reaction
• carbocations
• superelectrophilic activation
• antibacterial activity