Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel diazaspiro[4.5]decan-1-one derivatives as potential chitin synthase inhibitors and antifungal agents

Abstract A series of 2,8-diazaspiro[4.5]decan-1-one derivatives were designed, synthesized and screened for their inhibition activities against chitin synthase (CHS) and antimicrobial activities in vitro. The biological assays revealed that compounds 4a, 4e, 4h, 4j, 4o, 4q and 4r exhibited moderated to excellent potency against CHS with IC50 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.29 mM. Compounds 4e, 4j with IC50 value of 0.13 mM, 0.12 mM respectively, showed excellent inhibition potency among these compounds, which were similar to that of polyoxin B whose IC50 value was 0.08 mM. Meanwhile, the screening of the antifungal activity showed that compounds 4j and 4r had the same potency of inhibiting the growth of A. fumigatus with MIC value of 0.08 mmol/L. Compound 4d displayed excellent activity against C. albicans (ATCC 90023) with MIC value of 0.04 mmol/L, which was superior to fluconazole (0.104 mmol/L) and polyoxin B (0.129 mmol/L). The result of antibacterial assay showed that these compounds had little potency against those selected bacteria strains including three Gram-positive bacteria and three Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the combination use of 4c-fluconazole, 4i-fluconazole, 4j-fluconazole, and 4o-fluconazole against C. albicans,A. fumigatus and A. flavus showed additive or synergistic effects. These results indicated that the designed compounds serve as potential chitin synthase inhibitors and have selectively antifungal activities.