Schiff's base derivatives bearing nitroimidazole moiety: New class of antibacterial, anticancer agents and potential EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors

New Schiff's base derivatives 5a-5h have been synthesized by reaction between 1-(4-bromophenyl)-2-(2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)ethanone 3 and various benzohydrazide 4a-4h in presence of nickel (II) nitrate as a catalyst in ethanol at room temperature in good yield (54-88%). All compounds were tested for antibacterial as well as anticancer and inhibition of EGFR. Of the compounds studied, compounds 5d, 5f and 5g in the case of antiproliferation and inhibition of EGFR as well as compounds 5b, 5c, 5e and 5h in the case of antibacterial activity were found to be most effective compounds in the series. Compound 5f shows effective inhibition (IC50 = 0.21 ± 0.02 μM) by binding in to the active pocket of EGFR receptor with minimum binding energy (ΔGb = −49.4869 kcal/mol).