Synthesis of Novel Halogenated Angular Azaphenothiazinones of Biological Interest

A good number of phenothiazine derivatives have been known for their biological activities, yet considerable attention is still paid to them as a result of their varied uses in medicine which have prompted greater focus on phenothiazine moieties especially the aza analogues [1-3]. For instance, prothipendyl, 1, the 1-azaphenothiazine analog of promazine is found to be a superior drug to chlorpromazine, 2, in the treatment of mental disorders particularly in acute psychosis complicated with latent epilepsy [3] (Figure 1). This and other reports led to redirection of attention once more to azaphenothiazine ring systems as they aroused greater interest in the aza analogues of phenothiazine [4]. Phenothiazine derivatives have been found to possess potent wide spectrum CNS activities viz: anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, antidepressant and anti-neuroleptics [5-9]. Besides, they also possess potent anti-tubercular, antitumor, anti-histaminic and antibacterial activities among others [10-13]. Most reports on the pharmacology activities of phenothiazines were centred on the linear derivatives, only few reports have appeared in the literature on the angular type especially the non-linear aza analogues [14-16]. In this direction, we report the bactericide activity of newly synthesized angular aza phenothiazine derivatives against E.coli, Staphylococcus pseudointermedius, Staphylococcus scuiri, Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.


Introduction
A good number of phenothiazine derivatives have been known for their biological activities, yet considerable attention is still paid to them as a result of their varied uses in medicine which have prompted greater focus on phenothiazine moieties especially the aza analogues [1][2][3].For instance, prothipendyl, 1, the 1-azaphenothiazine analog of promazine is found to be a superior drug to chlorpromazine, 2, in the treatment of mental disorders particularly in acute psychosis complicated with latent epilepsy [3] (Figure 1).This and other reports led to redirection of attention once more to azaphenothiazine ring systems as they aroused greater interest in the aza analogues of phenothiazine [4].Phenothiazine derivatives have been found to possess potent wide spectrum CNS activities viz: anticonvulsant, antipsychotic, antidepressant and anti-neuroleptics [5][6][7][8][9].Besides, they also possess potent anti-tubercular, antitumor, anti-histaminic and antibacterial activities among others [10][11][12][13].Most reports on the pharmacology activities of phenothiazines were centred on the linear derivatives, only few reports have appeared in the literature on the angular type especially the non-linear aza analogues [14][15][16].In this direction, we report the bactericide activity of newly synthesized angular aza phenothiazine derivatives against E.coli, Staphylococcus pseudointermedius, Staphylococcus scuiri, Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Due to considerable biological and pharmaceutical activities of quinoneimines, the antibacterial activity of these novel non-linear phenothiazine derivatives was evaluated.

Organic and Medicinal Chemistry International Journal
This was largely as a result of the fact that the precursors, 8-hydroxyquinolinequinone, 6, and 6, 7-dibromo-5,8quinolinequinone, 4, are known to have fungistatic and bacteriostatic activities [19][20][21][22].An effective approach of antimicrobial therapy of an infection is based on the isolation and identification of the infected organism and determining its sensitivity to antimicrobial drugs.The microorganisms tested were E.coli (strains used were coded Eco 3, Eco 4 and Eco 12), Staphylococcus pseudointermedius and Staphylococcus scuiri (G101 and G84 respectively), Bacillus spp.and Pseudomonas aerugionsa.The assay was conducted using agar-well diffusion method in which a 20 mg/ml concentration of each compound was constituted by dissolving 0.04g of each compound in 2 ml of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) [23].A single colony of each test isolate was suspended in 2 ml of sterile nutrients broth.Inoculation was done followed by incubation at 37oC for 24 hr after which the plates were observed for inhibition zones around the wells.The diameters of the zones were measured with metre rule to the nearest whole millimetre.The result of the preliminary screening of the novel compounds tested against some Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria are shown in Table 1.The figures in Table 1 show the inhibition zone diameter produced by each compound against each bacterial organism at 20 mg/ml concentration.The IZD ranged between 0 and 21 mm in diameter; the higher the IZD, the higher the sensitivity.The compounds showed significant activity against the test organisms except Pseudomonas aeruginosa which was resistant to both isomers; Eco 4 and Eco 12 were resistant to compound 10.Minimum inhibitory concentration of the compounds was also determined by the agar-well diffusion method with various concentrations ranging between 20 mg/ml and 0.15625 mg/ml and was compared with those of some standard drugs.Minimum inhibitory concentration is the minimal concentration of drug that inhibits visible growth after overnight incubation [23][24][25].The lowest concentration of each compound that produced no zone was regarded as MIC.Hence, the essence of MIC is to determine the least concentration of drug that can inhibit the growth of the micro-organism.The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was compared with those of some standard drugs.Table 2 below gives the result of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the synthesized compounds, Ampicillin and Gentamycin (standard drugs) against Eco 3, G84 and Baccilus spp.The MIC for the compounds against Eco 3, G84 and Bacillus spp.ranged from 1.25 mg/ml to 20 mg/ml.For instance, the MIC for Eco 3 for compounds 9 and 10 is 20 mg/ml because there was no inhibition at the next concentration which is 10 mg/ml.It became necessary to compare the MICs of the synthesized compounds with those of some standard antibiotics against the microbes tested.Ampicillin and Gentamycin were used because they are standard drugs used for treating such strains of microorganisms; plain agar (i.e, without any of the test compounds) was also spot-inoculated to serve as the control because it had no effect against the isolates as it showed no zone of inhibition.The MIC of the standard drugs ranged between 100 mg/ml and 0.15625 mg/ml.From Table 2 is synthesized phenothiazine derivatives were active against Eco 3 at lower concentrations than Ampicillin and compared favourably well in their resistance against G84 and Bacillus spp.showing that the synthesized phenothiazine compounds are highly biologically active; hence, they may be of pharmaceutical interest.

Conclusion
We have shown that these angular (non-linear) azaphenothiazines are pharmaco-actively effective against some strains of bacteria thereby increasing the number of biologically active phenothiazine derivatives.More so, some of the isolates are methicillin resistant and they are imagined problems because they are difficult to treat and they infect humans and animals.However, we are glad that these synthesized compounds resisted them effectively even at very low concentrations.However, the possible industrial values of these heterocycles need investigation as they are deeply coloured and phenothiazines are known to be extensively used as dyes and pigments.

General Information
Melting points were taken using Fisher-Johns melting point apparatus and they remain uncorrected.Compounds were characterized by HNMR, CNMR, IR spectroscopy, UV/ Visible spectroscopy and elemental analysis.UV-Visible spectra were recorded on a JENWAY 6405 UV/VIS Spectrophotometer using matched 1cm quartz cells, Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, University of Nigeria Nsukka; IR spectra on a SHIMADZU FTIR-8400S FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROPHOTOMETER (KBr Pellets), (NARICT, ZARIA).Nuclear magnetic resonance (HNMR and CNMR) spectra were determined using Varian NMR Mercury-200BB (Central Science Lab.Obafemi Awolowo University Ife).Chemical shifts are recorded on the δ-scale (neat).The elemental analyses were done at the Central Science laboratory, University of Cairo, Egypt on a CE440 Elemental Analyzer.The antimicrobial screening was done at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

8-Hydroxy-5-nitrosoquinoline hydrochloride, 10
This compound was prepared following the procedure of Pratt and Drake.To a solution of 8-hydroxyquinoline (58g, 0.4 mol) in 200 ml of water, 75 ml of concentrated HCl and 200g of ice was added a solution of 30g of sodium nitrite in 100 ml of water in portions with vigorous shaking over 1hr at 0 to 4 0C.The mixture was allowed to stand overnight at 00C before the product was filtered off and washed with cold water.The product was air-dried giving a yield of 76g (87%) of the hydrochloride of 8-hydroxy-5-nitrosoquinoline (m.p, 181-183 0C, dec) as fine yellow compound.The compound loses its brightness in time and darkens due to auto-oxidation.

5-Amino-8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate, 14
20 g (0.11 mol) of the freshly prepared hydrochloride of 8-hydroxy5-nitrosoquinoline was dissolved in a mixture of water (80 ml) and 5M NaOH (130 ml) placed in a three-necked flask (500 ml) equipped with a long magnetic bar.The entire mixture was warmed to 40oC with stirring and sodium dithionite (48 g) was added portion wise.The temperature of the solution rose spontaneously to 75-80oC and a rapid stream of nitrogen were introduced into the solution.The solution was allowed to cool slowly to about 50oC and 6M sulphuric acid (125 ml) was then added which led to evolution of sulphur dioxide.When the evolution of sulphur dioxide had subsided the solution was maintained under diminished pressure (pressure of the nitrogen gas reduced) with magnetic stirring until most of the dissolved gases had been removed.The mixture was cooled in an ice-bath and the resulting precipitate filtered without washing.Reddishbrown crystals of 5-amino-8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (16.5 g, 82.5%) were obtained, m.p 218-219oC (Lit.220oC).

6,7-Dibromo-5, 8-quinolinequinone, 7
Compound 4 was prepared using combined literature [26][27][28].5-Amino-8-hydroxyquinoline sulphate (54 g, 0.34 mol) was dissolved in 24% hydrobromic acid (400 ml) in a 1-litre three-necked flask equipped with reflux condenser, quick fit thermometer, magnetic bar and a dropping funnel.The reaction mixture was heated to 50oC.A solution of sodium bromated (38.5 g, 0.225 mol) in water (150 ml) was added at such a rate that the temperature does not exceed 50-60oC.After the addition, the reaction mixture was heated at that temperature with gentle stirring for 0.5h (30 min) and then cooled.The cooled mixture was poured onto ice (500 g) and further chilled in an ice-salt mixture.The resulting precipitate was filtered and recrystallized from ethanol to give yellow precipitate of 6,7-dibromo-

2-Amino-3,5-dibromopyrazine
This compound was prepared following Okafor and Okoro's procedure.2-Aminopyrazine (9.5 g, 100 mmol) was placed in a reaction flask containing glacial acetic acid (70 ml) and warmed on a steam bath until it dissolved.Sodium acetate trihydrate (33 g, 243 mmol) was added with constant swirling.The slurry was stirred in an ice-salt bath maintained at -5oC and bromine (16 ml) was added dropwise over a 4h period (if the bromine addition was speeded up the reaction became turbulent and potentially hazardous).The mixture was stirred in the ice bath for 2h and then at room temperature for 24h.It was then poured into ice (50 g) and neutralized with concentrated ammonia (pH 8).The crude product were collected and recrystallized from methanol (Norit) to give colourless needles of 2-amino-3,5-dibromopyrazine (16.8 g, 66%), m.p 113-114oC (Lit.114-115oC) (Figure 3).

Evaluation of the Synthesized Angular Phenothiazinones for Antibacterial Activity
The assay was conducted using agar-well diffusion method [23].An 20 mg/ml concentration of each compound was constituted by dissolving 0.04 g of each in 2 ml dimethyl sulfoxide.A single colony of each test isolate was suspended in 2 ml of sterile nutrient broth.The suspension of each isolate was standardized by adjusting to correspond to 0.5 McFarland turbidity standards corresponding to approximately 108 cfu/ ml and used to inoculate the surface of the iso-sensitest nutrient agar and the excess fluid drained into discard pot containing disinfectant.The inoculated agar surface was allowed to dry and the plates appropriately labelled.Using a cork borer of 6mm in diameter, wells were bored in the inoculated iso-sensitest nutrient agar.With a micropipette, 50 µl of each test compound solution was delivered into each well.The plates were left on the bench for 30 minutes to allow the compound to diffuse into the agar.Thereafter, the plates were incubated at 37oC for 24 h.After incubation, the plates were observed for inhibition zones around the wells.The diameters of the zones were measured with metre rule to the nearest whole millimetre.

Determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the Synthesized Angular Phenothiazinones
This was carried out using agar dilution following the procedure outlined by Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute [25].Sterile test tubes were arranged on a test tube rack and 1 ml of DMSO was dispensed into each of them.From the stock compound solutions, 1 ml was transferred into the first test tube and two-fold serial dilution of each compound solution was carried out and the resultant concentration in the test tubes were 10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.3125, and 0.15625 (mg/ml)(i.e,graded concentrations of the compounds) [26].A single colony of each test isolate was suspended in 2 ml of sterile nutrient broth.The suspension of each isolate was standardized and used to inoculate the surface of the nutrient agar and the excess fluid drained into discard pot containing disinfectant.
The inoculated agar surface was allowed to dry and the plates appropriately labelled.Using a cork borer of 6mm in diameter, wells were bored in the inoculated nutrient agar.With a micropipette, 50µl of each test compound solution was delivered into each well.The plates were left on the bench for 30 minutes to allow the compound to diffuse into the agar.Thereafter, the plates were incubated at 37oC for 24h.After incubation, the plates were observed for inhibition zones around the wells.The diameters of the zones were measured with meter rule to the nearest whole millimeter.MIC was taken as the lowest concentration of the compounds that resulted in no visible growth on the surface of the agar.

Table 1 :
Results of Antibacterial susceptibility test (tested with 20 mg/ml of each compound).

Table 2 :
Result of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) (mg/ml) of the Synthesized Compounds and Some Standard Drugs.