Synthesis and Biological Screening of 4-Benzyl-2H-phthalazine Derivatives

Preparation of 4-benzyl-2-substituted phthalazin-1-one derivatives 2-8 is reported. Condensation of 4-benzyl-1-chlorophthalazine (9) with a series of different nucleophiles gave 4-benzylphthalazin-1-ylamino derivatives (10-13 and 16) and 4-amino-2-[N′-(4-benzylphthalazin-1-yl)-hydrazino]-6-arylpyrimidine-5-carbonitriles (14a,b). Interaction of 9 with ambident anions was also studied. 5-Benzyl-6,6a,12-triazobenzo[a]-anthracen-7-one (15) is obtained from 9 and anthranilic acid derivatives. Treatment of 16 with (EtO)(3)CH/Ac(2)O under reflux afforded the corresponding ethoxymethylene derivative 17, while aqueous ammonium hydroxide treatment afforded carboxamide derivative 18. The structures of the newly synthesized derivatives were confirmed by their elemental analysis, IR, (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and mass spectral studies. Antimicrobial activities of some selected compounds were also studied and some of these were found to exhibit promising effects against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi.