10.1134/S1068162018010132
The research aims to synthesize and study a series of new 1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl-acrylic acids for their potential antibacterial and protistocidal properties. The study was prompted by the need for new agents against protozoa, which rapidly develop resistance to existing drugs, and the recognition that compounds bearing an acrylic acid residue and a heterocyclic fragment could exhibit enhanced biological activity. Key chemicals used in the synthesis include maleic anhydride, various hydrazides, and POCl3. The synthesized compounds were tested for their biological activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and the protozoa Colpoda steinii. The results showed that p-substituted benzyl derivatives in the Z-form exhibited high protistocidal activity, surpassing the reference drug Baycox (toltrazuril) by several times. Notably, the 3-hydroxy-2-naphthyl derivative (IVj) demonstrated both very high protistocidal activity and moderate antibacterial activity. The study concludes that the search for antiprotozoal compounds within this class, especially Z-isomers, is promising, and these derivatives could serve as a basis for developing new pharmaceuticals with improved efficacy against both bacterial and protozoal infections.