Synthesis and antibacterial activity of cinnamaldehyde acylhydrazone with a 1,4-benzodioxan fragment as a novel class of potent ß-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (FabH) inhibitor.

Fatty acid biosynthesis is essential for bacterial survival. ß-Ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) synthase III (FabH), is a particularly attractive antibacterial target, since it is central to the initiation of fatty acid biosynthesis. Three series of 21 cinnamaldehyde acylhydrazone derivatives, A3-9, B3-9, and C3-9, were synthesized and evaluated for FabH-inhibitory activity. Compound B6 showed the most potent biological activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis (minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values: 1.56-3.13 µg/mL) and was comparable with the positive control. Docking simulation by positioning compound B6 in the FabH structure active site was performed to explore the possible binding model.