Synthesis and antibacterial activity of sulfonamides. SAR and DFT studies

• Best yields for the synthesis of sulfonamides are obtained.
• The activity against clinical strains Gram-positive and Gram-negative was evaluated.
• SAR studies and correlations between DFT computed based chemical descriptors and biological activities are established.

A series of substituted sulfonamide derivatives were synthesized from chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (CSI) in tree steps (carbamoylation, sulfamoylation and deprotection). Antibacterial activity in vitro of some newly formed compounds investigated against clinical strains Gram-positive and Gram-negative: Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus applying the method of dilution and minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) methods. These compounds have significant bacteriostatic activity with totalities of bacterial strains used. DFT calculations with B3LYP/6-31G(d) level have been used to analyze the electronic and geometric characteristics deduced for the stable structure of three compounds presenting conjugation between a nitrogen atom N through its lone pair and an aromatic ring next to it. The principal quantum chemical descriptors have been correlated with the antibacterial activity.