Preparation of 4-aminophenylacetic acid derivatives with promising antimicrobial activity.

Condensation of 4-aminophenylacetic acid with phthalic anhydride gave (dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)phenylacetic acid (1), which was employed as the key intermediate in the synthesis of title compounds 2-8. The products were characterized by analytical and spectral data (IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and mass spectra). Antimicrobial activities were studied and some of the compounds showed promising results.