Synthesis and Antibacterial Activity of Alkylated Diamines and Amphiphilic Amides of Quinic Acid Derivatives.

Different series of N-alkylated diamines and their derivatives condensed to quinic acid were synthesized and tested for antibacterial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The lipophilic chain and carbohydrate moiety modulate the antibacterial activity and the compounds showed a structure-activity relationship. Overall, 11 compounds displayed better activity than chloramphenicol against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Monoalkylated amines 2a-h displayed an activity similar to that of ethambutol against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.