Pyridine carboxylic acid amides for mycobacterium infections

Benzoic acid amides characterized by the presence of a nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, alkylsulfonyl, carboxy, carbalkoxy, amido or sulfonamido substituent in the phenyl ring and by the presence of a heterocyclic group connected to the amide nitrogen atom through a hydrocarbon chain are antibacterial agents and in particular antituberculosis agents. The compounds, of which N-(pyrid-2-yl-methyl)3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid amide is a typical embodiment, are prepared by the reaction of an appropriately substituted benzoic acid, or derivative thereof, with an appropriate amine.