We report that the photodeoxygenation of 1,2-benzodiphenylene sulfoxide, 1, generates an intermediate capable of oxidizing the solvent benzene to phenol. The reactivity of the intermediate was probed with various substrates (2-methylbutane, chloride ion, and para-substituted aryl sulfides). The intermediate produced in the sulfoxide photodeoxygenation displays an electrophilic oxidation chemistry. Our data on 1 contrast with the behavior of hydroxyl radical but resemble the chemistry observed for gas-phase atomic oxygen [O((3)P)] and for solution-phase photodeoxygenations of dibenzothiophene sulfoxide, 3, and pyridine N-oxide, 5. Correlations are made between the ionization potential of the acceptor molecules and the logarithm of the relative rate constants in order to advance the idea that the oxidizing agent of the title reaction may be solution-phase O((3)P).

We describe the biological evaluation of isothiazoloquinolones (ITQs) having structural modifications at the 6-, 7-, and 8-positions. Addition of a methoxy substituent to C-8 effected an increase in antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and a decrease in cytotoxic activity against Hep2 cells. Removal of fluorine from C-6 or replacement of the C-8 carbon with a nitrogen compromised anti-MRSA activity. When the groups attached at C-7 were compared, the anti-MRSA activity decreased in the order 6-isoquinolinyl > 4-pyridinyl > 5-dihydroisoindolyl > 6-tetrahydroisoquinolinyl. The compound with the most desirable in vitro biological profile was 9-cyclopropyl-6-fluoro-8-methoxy-7-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)-9H-isothiazolo[5,4-b]quinoline-3,4-dione (7g). This ITQ demonstrated (i) strong in vitro anti-MRSA activity (MIC90 = 0.5 microg/mL), (ii) strong inhibitory activities against S. aureus DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV, with weak activity against human topoisomerase II, (iii) weak cytotoxic activities against three cell lines, and (iv) efficacy in an in vivo murine thigh model of infection employing MRSA.

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A series of 7-(3'-substituted)pyrrolidino-8-methoxyisothiazoloquinolone (ITQ) analogues were prepared, and their antibacterial potency against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and Escherichia coli were compared. Many of these analogues had MIC ≤ 0.25 μg/mL against quinolone-resistant MRSA strains. The stereochemical preference was explored for a series of 1''-methyl-3'-aminomethylpyrrolidine analogues. Antibacterial activity was generally more favorable with 3'-R, 1''-S configuration. Substitution on the 3'-aminomethyl nitrogen tended to decrease activity, while potency was maintained with disubstitution or aryl substitution at the 1''-carbon. The 7-[(R)-3-((S)-1-aminoethyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl] analogue (6a(R,S)) and the (R)-7-[3-(2-aminopropan-2-yl)pyrrolidin-1-yl] analogue (7a(R)) were found to be the ITQs with the most promising antibacterial profiles. The MICs of these select ITQs versus a panel of clinical MRSA strains were determined, and the ITQs were found to have 8- to 16-fold greater potency than linezolid. These analogues were also evaluated for inhibition of the target enzymes, topoisomerase IV and DNA gyrase, from both wild-type and multidrug resistant strains. The ITQs were up to >30 times more inhibitory against these targets than the fluoroquinolone moxifloxacin.