Synthesis of 3-((4-Hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic Acid Derivatives as Promising Scaffolds for the Development of Antimicrobial Candidates Targeting Multidrug-Resistant Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens represent a significant global health concern, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, it is crucial to develop novel compounds targeting drug-resistant microbial strains. Herein, we report the synthesis of amino acid derivatives bearing an incorporated 4-hydroxyphenyl moiety with various substitutions. The resultant novel 3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic acid derivatives - exhibited structure-dependent antimicrobial activity against both ESKAPE group bacteria and drug-resistant species. Furthermore, these derivatives demonstrated substantial activity against , with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 64 µg/mL. Hydrazones - , containing heterocyclic substituents, showed the most potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This activity extended to methicillin-resistant (MRSA) with MIC values ranging from 1 to 8 µg/mL, vancomycin-resistant (0.5-2 µg/mL), Gram-negative pathogens (MIC 8-64 µg/mL), and drug-resistant species (MIC 8-64 µg/mL), including . Collectively, these findings underscore the potential utility of the novel 3-((4-hydroxyphenyl)amino)propanoic acid scaffold for further development as a foundational platform for novel antimicrobial agents targeting emerging and drug-resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens.