Solvent-free Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of 14-Aryl Substituted Dibenzoxanthene Derivatives

Abstract

Xanthene derivatives are important compounds because of their proven biological activities. Seven 14-aryl-14H-dibenzoxanthene derivatives were synthesized by reliable solvent-free synthesis procedure using iron (III) chloride hexahydrate as a catalyst. Three synthesized derivatives possess antibacterial activities against different bacteria. Compound 14-(2',5'-dimethoxyphenyl)-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthene(3) showed best activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC 0.616 mg/mL. Docking study for the most potent compound was carried out by taking amino terminal domain of enzyme I as a target for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and it was shown that binding energy of 3 was similar to amikacin's (around –4.2 kcal/mol) used as a referent drug, although bound on a different sites on enzyme.