Pharmacological Potential and Synthetic Approaches of Imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine and Imidazo[4,5-c]pyridine Derivatives

The structural resemblance between the fused imidazopyridine heterocyclic ring system and purines has prompted biological investigations to assess their potential therapeutic significance. They are known to play a crucial role in numerous disease conditions. The discovery of their first bioactivity as GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators divulged their medicinal potential. Proton pump inhibitors, aromatase inhibitors, and NSAIDs were also found in this chemical group. Imidazopyridines have the ability to influence many cellular pathways necessary for the proper functioning of cancerous cells, pathogens, components of the immune system, enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism, etc. The collective results of biochemical and biophysical properties foregrounded their medicinal significance in central nervous system, digestive system, cancer, inflammation, etc. In recent years, new preparative methods for the synthesis of imidazopyridines using various catalysts have been described. The present manuscript to the best of our knowledge is the complete compilation on the synthesis and medicinal aspects of imidazo[4,5-b]pyridines and imidazo[4,5-c]pyridines reported from the year 2000 to date, including structure–activity relationships

Synthesis and Tuberculostatic Activity Evaluation of Novel Benzazoles with Alkyl, Cycloalkyl or Pyridine Moiety

Compounds possessing benzimidazole system exhibit significant antituberculous activity. In order to examine how structure modifications affect tuberculostatic activity, a series of benzazole derivatives were synthesized and screened for their antitubercular activity. The compounds 1–20 were obtained by the reaction between o-diamine, o-aminophenol, or o-aminothiophenol with carboxylic acids or thioamides. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR spectra, and elemental analysis. Synthesized benzazoles were evaluated for their tuberculostatic activity toward Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains. Quantum chemical calculations were performed to study the molecular geometry and the electronic structure of benzimidazoles GK-151B, 4, 6, and benzoxazole 11, using the Gaussian 03W software (Gaussian, Inc., Wallingford, CT, USA). Three-dimensional structure of benzimidazoles 1–3, MC-9, and GK-151B was determined by ab initio calculation using Gamess-US software. The activity of the received benzimidazoles was moderate or good. All of the benzoxazoles and benzothiazoles demonstrated much lower activity. Benzoxazoles were less active by about 50 times, and benzothiazole by 100 times than the benzimidazole analogs. Quantum chemical calculations showed differences in the distribution of electrostatic potential in the benzazole system of benzimidazoles and benzoxazoles. Three-dimensional structure calculations revealed how the parity of the alkyl substituent at the C2 position impacts the activity. Benzimidazole system is essential for the antituberculosis activity that is associated with the presence of the imine nitrogen atom in N-1 position. Its replacement by an oxygen or sulfur atom results in a decrease of the activity. The parity of the alkyl substituent at the C-2 position also modifies the activity