Late-stage functionalization of 5-nitrofurans derivatives and their antibacterial activities

Structure modification of drugs is a reliable way to optimize lead compounds, among which the most striking and direct method is late-stage functionalization (LSF). Here, we employed the Cu-catalyzed C–H LSF to modify 5-nitrofuran drugs. A series of modifications have been carried out including hydroxylation, methylation, azidination, cyanation, arylation, etc. Antibacterial activities of all compounds in vitro were measured. The results showed that compound 1 and compound 18 were the most active among all compounds. Meanwhile, the cell cytotoxicity assays of potent compounds 1, 3, 4, 5 & 18 and the parent drug FZD were conducted.