The antibacterial activity of some fluorine-containing benzimidazoles

A series of fluorine-containing benzimidaojles has been tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Klebsiella aerogenes and Escherichia coli. The highest activities were shown by compounds which had a perfluoroalkyl group at position 2 and one or more electron attracting groups in the benzene ring. The most active compound of the series was 2, 4, 5-tristrifluoro-methyl benzimidazole, which in vitro inhibited Staph. aureus at 0.97 μg ml and Strep. pyogenes at 0.24 μg ml . No antagonism was shown by vitamin B 12 or purines against the activity of 4, 5-bistrinuoromethylbenzimidazole.