Synthesis and molecular modeling of antimicrobial active fluoroquinolone-pyrazine conjugates with amino acid linkers

Abstract Novel fluoroquinolone–pyrazine conjugates 7a – h with amino acid linkers were synthesized in good yields utilizing benzotriazole chemistry. Antimicrobial bioassay showed that the synthesized bis-conjugates have antimicrobial properties comparable to the parent drugs. Compound 7h showed superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes (MIC = 74.6 μM and 149.3 μM, respectively). This matched well with the estimated values obtained from 3D-pharmacophore and 2D-QSAR studies (MIC = 67 μM and 92.9 μM, respectively).