Structure–activity relationships of bensulfuron methyl and its derivatives as novel agents against drug‐resistant Candida auris

Abstract

With the emergence of the human pathogen Candida auris as a threat to human health, there is a strong demand to identify effective medicines to prevent the harm caused by such drug‐tolerant human fungi. Herein, a series of 33 new derivatives of bensulfuron methyl (BSM) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Among the target compounds, 8a possessed the best Ki value of 1.015 μM against C. auris acetohydroxyacid synthase (CauAHAS) and an MIC value of 6.25 μM against CBS10913, a clinically isolated strain of C. auris. Taken together the structures of BSM and the synthesized compounds, it was found that methoxy groups at both meta‐position of pyrimidine ring are likely to provide desirable antifungal activities. Quantum calculations and molecular dockings were performed to understand the structure–activity relationships. The present study has hence provided some interesting clues for the discovery of novel antibiotics with this distinct mode of action.