Synthesis and antimickrobial activity of benzofuran-carboxamide derivatives

The reaction of the sodium salts of 4-methoxy and 4, 7-dimethoxy 6-hydroxy benzofuran-5-carboxylic acid with ethyl chloroformate yields the corresponding dicarbethoxy derivatives. The N-substituted amides were obtained by treating the latter compounds with amines. The corresponding hydrazides were synthesized by the reaction of hydrazine hydrate on the dicarbethoxy derivatives which spontaneously cyclized to 5-substituted-2, 3- dihydro-1, 3, 4, -oxadiazol-2-one. Also the reaction with phenyl hydrazine has been studied. The dicarbethoxy derivatives and N-substituted amides were tested against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria in vitro. Most of the compounds posses moderate or slight activity against Gram positive bacteria.