Vinyl halogenated fatty acids display antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogen responsible for skin and wound infections, pneumonia, and bloodstream infections. Serious attention is needed because Methicillin-resistant S. aureus is also resistant to many other commonly used antibiotics. This study explores the potential of vinyl halogenated fatty acids as antibacterial agents. Specifically, the total synthesis of vinyl halogenated fatty acids was performed to investigate their antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The novel synthesis of the vinyl halogenated fatty acids was carried out by treating either 2-dodecynoic acid or 2-hexadecynoic acid with an allyl halide and 5 mol% of bis(benzonitrile)palladium (II) chloride as catalyst. Our results demonstrate that vinyl halogenated fatty acids displayed significant antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus and low cytotoxicity against eukaryotic Vero Cells. Moreover, it was demonstrated that vinyl brominated fatty acids could disrupt the S. aureus plasma membrane and inhibit the expression of the norB gene.