Synthesis and evaluation of antimicrobial activity of cyclic imides derived from phthalic and succinic anhydrides

Cyclic imides are a group of compounds which have valuable biological properties including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal activities. In this study, succinic and phthalic anhydrides were treated with glycinamide in pyridine to yield the corresponding amic acids. These amic acids underwent ring closure with acetic anhydride and anhydrous sodium acetate to form cyclic imides. In another procedure, succinic and phthalic anhydrides upon reaction with 2-amino-benzylamine in pyridine gave the corresponding cyclic imides. The imides were screened for their antimicrobial activities against three types of bacteria and one type of fungi. Phthalimide derived from benzylamine exhibited remarkable antimicrobial activity against E. coli.