Formazan analogous: Synthesis, antimicrobial activity, dihydrofolate reductase inhibitors and docking study

•A series of novel formazan analogues were synthesized as potent antimicrobial agents•All formazan analogues revealed promising antimicrobial activity with MIC value range of 1.95– 62.5 μg/mL.•Compounds 3c and 5a showed good results against the MRSA strain (MIC 3.91 μg/mL).•Compounds 3c, 5a,7a and 9 displayed comparable 14α-demehylase inhibition (IC50= 4.79 – 19.50 µM) to that of fluconazole (IC50= 2.81µM).•Molecular docking studies revealed that all formazan analogues have good binding mode and an affinity to DHFR and 14α-demehylase binding site.