Synthesis of 4-amino-2,6-diaryl-5-cyanopyrimidines as antimicrobial agents

<p>This article describes an efficient and facile synthesis of 11 2,4,6-trisubstituted 5-cyanopyrimidines starting from <i>meta-</i> and <i>para</i>-substituted 2-cyanocinnamonitriles and arylamidines. The synthesized heterocycles, <b>3a–k,</b> were characterized by infrared (IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data. The probable mechanism of formation of the title compounds employing 2-cyanocinnamonitriles and arylamidines in the presence of a base was clarified. A preliminary screening of the antibacterial tests clearly showed that 4 out of 11 pyrimidines, <b>3a, 3e, 3f,</b> and <b>3k,</b> were effective against bacteria <i>Staphyloccus aureus, Bacillus subtillis,</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa.</i> Further, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the bacteria has been determined.</p