1,4-Di-N-oxide quinoxaline-2-carboxamide: Cyclic voltammetry and relationship between electrochemical behavior, structure and anti-tuberculosis activity

To gain insight into the mechanism of action, the redox properties of 37 quinoxaline-2-carboxamide 1,4-di-N-oxides with varying degrees of anti-tuberculosis activity were studied in dimethylformamide (DMF) using cyclic voltammetry and first derivative cyclic voltammetry. For all compounds studied, electrochemical reduction in DMF is consistent with the reduction of the N-oxide functionality to form a radical anion. The influence of molecular structure on reduction potential is addressed and it can be said that a general relationship exists between reduction potential and reported antimicrobial activity. For those compounds which have demonstrated promising biological activity, the more active the compound the less negative the reduction potential typically is. The results suggest the possible participation of charge transfer processes in the mechanism of action of quinoxaline di-N-oxides against tuberculosis and offer new insights into the design of future antitubercular drugs.