Abstract

Aims: The study aims to synthesize bioactive hybrid pharmacophores (thiazole ring and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole system) by incorporating them into one biological assessment molecular system.

Background: A literature survey revealed that various imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles, thiazoles, and hydrazones have powerful antimycobacterial activity.

Objective: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of molecular hybridization and the scope for imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-hydrazone-thiazoles to develop as promising antimycobacterial agents.

Methods: Several imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole–hydrazine-thiazoles 5a-g, 7a,b, 9a,b, 11a,b, 13, and 15a,b were generated using a molecular hybridization strategy and assessed against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (ATCC 25618) for their in vitro antituberculous activity.

Results: Derivative 7b (MIC = 0.98 μg/mL) has shown the most promising antimycobacterial activity among the series tested. Brief structure-activity relationship studies found that the thiazole of chlorophenyl or pyridine, or coumarin had a significant relation with the antimycobacterial activity.

Conclusion: The promising antimycobacterial activity of compound 7b compared with the reference drug suggests that this compound may contribute as a lead compound in the search for new potential antimycobacterial agents.

Keywords: Thiosemicarbazones, imidazothiazole, thiazole, hydrazones, bis-heterocycles, tuberculosis.