Derivatives of 2-chloro-3-(n-alkylamino)-1,4-naphthoquinone (1-alkyl: methyl; L-1, ethyl; L-2, propyl; L-3 and butyl; L-4) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, H-1 NMR, UV-visible spectroscopy, LC-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. Antifungal activity of L-1 to L-4 has been evaluated against Candida tropicalis, Candida albicans and Cladosporium herbarum. The intramolecular hydrogen bonding affects the N-H vibrational frequency in L-2 (3273 cm(-1)). The single crystal X-ray structure reveal that L-1 and L-3 crystallizes in triclinic P-1, whereas L-2 crystallizes in orthorhombic Pca2(1), space group. An extensive intra and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions were observed in L-1 to L-3 which leads to molecular association. Intramolecular N-H center dot center dot center dot O hydrogen bonding were observed in L-1 to L-3. Moreover pi-pi stacking interactions were observed between the quinonoid rings of L-1 and L-3, however no such interactions were observed in L-2. An electrochemical study showed molecular association of L-1 to L-4 in DMSO solution. Compounds L-1 to L-4 were found to be potent antifungal agents against all the three strains, especially against C. tropicalis. Amongst these promising antifungal candidates, L-1 showed better activity compared to the clinically administered antifungal drug Amphotericin B and Nitrofurantoin with MIC = 1.25 mu g ml(-1) and MIC = 0.025 mu g ml(-1) respectively against C. albicans. Structure and activity relationship (SAR) study suggest a LogP value of similar to 2.0 and the cyclic voltammetry studies reveals additional chemical processes for L-1, which exhibits maximum activity against all fungal strains. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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