A library of six novel phenylhydrazones were synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial and resistance modulating activity against a panel of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and fungal species. The compounds were produced in good yields of 60–92% w/w and characterized using melting point, UV-visible spectroscopy, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance (1H, 13C, and DEPT-Q) techniques. Mass spectroscopy was used to confirm the identity of one of the most active compounds, 5 [SA5]. The phenylhydrazones showed activity against all the six selected microorganisms with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the most active compounds, 1 [BP1] and 5 [SA5], at 138 µM (Klebsiella pneumoniae) and 165 µM (Streptococcus pneumoniae), respectively. Compound 1 [BP1] further demonstrated a high resistance modulatory activity at 1.078 µM against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae.

4-(2-(2,4-Dinitrophenyl) hydrazone) methyl)-2 methoxy phenol (IND-X) and 4-(2-(2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazono) methyl) benzene-1,3-diol (IND-Y) were synthesised by condensation reactions with 2,4-dinitrinophenylhydrazine and were observed to possess acid-base indicator properties. The study was conducted to explore and verify their use in different analytical situations and, consequently, validate them. Analysis of their use in acid-base titrations between strong acids/strong bases and weak acids/strong bases as well as pharmaceutical applications in the assay of ibuprofen pure powder and batch of ibuprofen tablets (400 mg) using standard methods in the British Pharmacopoeia (2020) was all considered. The validations were performed by the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for the registration of Pharmaceuticals for Humans Q2 (R1) guidelines. The outcomes were statistically compared with existing conventional analytical approaches. Titrimetric data obtained were analyzed statistically by Student’s t-test and one-way ANOVA at a 95% confidence level. IND-X and IND-Y were shown to be similar in behaviour to phenolphthalein, methyl orange, and methyl red as visual indicators after preliminary evidence of sharp colour changes in acid, alkaline, and neutral pH solutions. The use of the two indicators in the assay of ibuprofen powder and tablets has also been established. The validation parameters considered were found to be consistent with respective acceptance criteria for analytical purposes. IND-X and IND-Y are therefore proposed as alternative acid-base indicators to methyl red, methyl orange, and phenolphthalein for routine volumetric analysis in students’ laboratory experiments. They also serve as alternative indicators to phenolphthalein for the titrimetric analysis of ibuprofen-based samples and products.