Synthetic approaches towards 3-pyridinecarbonitrile derivatives and their antimicrobial properties

Abstract

A variety of 2-alkoxy-4,6-diaryl-3-pyridinecarbonitriles <b>2</b> have been prepared via either the reaction of 1,3-diaryl-2-propen-1-ones <b>1</b> with malononitrile or the reaction of ylidenemalononitriles <b>6</b> with the proper aryl methyl ketone <b>7</b> in the appropriate alcohol

in the presence of sodium. On the other hand, conducting the reaction in refluxing ethanol in the presence of ammonium acetate affords, the corresponding 2-amino-3-pyridinecarbonitriles <b>8</b>. The antimicrobial properties against Gram-positive, Gram-negative,

acid-fast bacteria and yeast have been screened. The prepared propenones <b>1a-d</b> show considerable activity against the tested yeast as well as most of the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A few derivatives of the prepared pyridines <b>2c,f,h ; 8b</b> exhibit mild antimicrobial activity.