1,8-Substituted anthraquinones, anthrones and bianthrones as potential non-azole leads against fungal infections

[Display omitted] •Synthesis of various anthraquinones, anthrones and bianthrones.•Compounds were tested for their antifungal activity.•Compounds evaluated as either fungistatic or fungicidal. The synthesis of a variety of 1,8-substituted anthraquinones, anthrones and bianthrones and their potential as antifungal agents is evaluated. Preliminary screening against Schizosaccharomyces pombe (S. pombe), a fission yeast, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae), a budding yeast, is reported. Both these yeast species demonstrate close homologue to a number of pathogenic fungi.