Hydrogen bonding chains and rings structural motifs in new series of N-phthaloyl aminocarboxylic acid derivatives. Solid state microwave synthesis, structural chemistry, computational calculations and antimicrobial activity

A series of six N-phthaloyl aminocarboxylic acids were synthesized by using improved microwave irradiation with a multimode reactor. X-ray single crystal diffraction established the molecular structure of three N-protected aminocarboxylic acids derivatives, and spectral data agree with these in solution. The hydrogen bonding characteristics of this class of molecules are discussed on the basis of crystal structural analyses, MP2/DFT quantum calculations and Hirshfeld surfaces analyses. The relative strengths of the structural O–H⋯O and C–H⋯O hydrogen bonding chain and ring motifs are compared. Antimicrobial activities of 2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)propanoic acid, 2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)-3-phenylpropanoic acid and 2-(4-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)phenyl)acetic acid, were screened against three pathogenic strains; only the first two compounds were found to be quite sensitive against Gram +ve and Gram −ve bacterial strains, respectively. A relative structure–function relationship is observed.

► A series of N-phthaloyl aminocarboxylic acid derivatives were synthesized.
► Improved microwave irradiation was show to generate high yields.
► The relative strength of hydrogen bonding patterns was studied by MP2/DFT level of theory.