Synthesis, characterization and DPPH scavenging activity of some benzimidazole derivatives

A base-catalyzed conversion of aldehydes to benzimidazoles has been achieved. The compounds have been characterized by IR, NMR, micoranalysis, and GC-MS. The reaction for the formation of benzimidazoles has been monitored with 1H NMR and IR. The crystal structures of two derivatives, 2-(2-chlorophenyl)-1H-benzimidazole and 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-4-nitrophenol, are presented. A study of the DPPH scavenging activity of these compounds showed that 2-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)phenol (2), 2-p-tolyl-1H-benzimidazole (3) and 2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1H-benzimidazole (7) gave IC50 values 1974, 773 and 800 µM.               KEY WORDS: Benzimidazole, o-Phenylenediamine, Aldehydes, Base catalysis, DPPH scavenging activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(2), 271-284.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i2.

Syntheses, protonation constants and antimicrobial activity of 2-substituted N-alkylimidazole derivatives

A series of N-alkylimidazole-2-carboxylic acid, N-alkylimidazole-2-carboxaldehyde and N-alkylimidazole-2-methanol derivatives [alkyl = benzyl, methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, heptyl, octyl and decyl] have been synthesized and the protonation constants determined. The antimicrobial properties of the compounds were tested against Gram-negative (Escherichi coli), Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii) bacterial strains and yeast (C. albicans). Both the disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods for testing the antimicrobial activity showed that N-alkylation of imidazole with longer alkyl chains and the substitution with low pKa group at 2-position resulted in enhanced antimicrobial activity. Particularly, the N-alkylimidazole-2-carboxylic acids exhibited the best antimicrobial activity due to the low pKa of the carboxylic acid moiety. Generally, all the N-alkylimidazole derivatives were most active against the Gram-positive bacteria [S. aureus (MIC = 5–160 µg mL–1) and B. subtilis subsp. spizizenii (5–20 µg mL–1)], with the latter more susceptible. All the compounds showed poor antimicrobial activity against both Gram-negative (E. coli, MIC = 0.15 to >2500 µg mL–1) bacteria and all the compounds were inactive against the yeast (Candida albicans)

The Ratios of Vanadium-to-nickel and Phenanthrene-to-dibenzothiophene as Means of Identifying Petroleum Source and Classification of Nigeria Crude Oils

<div><p>Nigeria light, medium, and heavy crude oils were categorized based on the ratio of vanadium-to-nickel (V/Ni) and the ratio of phenanthrene-to-dibenzothiophene (PHEN/DBT) derivatives. V/Ni ratio of 0.47, 1.36, and 2.77 were observed for light, medium, and heavy crude oils, respectively, while the PHEN/DBT ratio was observed to be 8.35, 4.33, and 1.09 for the light, medium, and heavy crude oils, respectively. From the results obtained, light crude oil was suggested to originate from marine organic matter while the heavy oil originates from the terrestrial organic matter.</p></div