Trifluoromethylated Quinolone-Hydantoin Hybrids: Synthesis and Antibacterial Evaluation

A series of new trifluoromethyl-substituted quinolones and hydantoin hybrids has been synthesized and evaluated against Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus MTCC 96) and Gram-negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa MTCC 441, Klebsiella pneumonia MTCC 109, and Escherichia coli MTCC 442). Compound 19c, having the 6-propene group on the quinolone ring, showed similar activity to a standard drug (chloramphenicol) by exhibiting MIC values of 50 µg/mL against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Physicochemical properties of compound 19c were also determined, which were in line with Lipinski’s rule of five, suggesting the suitability of compound 19c in biological systems. Various types of binding interactions of 19c within the active site of DNA gyrase of S. aureus were also streamlined by molecular docking studies, suggesting its capability to block the catalytic process of the DNA gyrase, which could be the possible reason for its antibacterial potential.