Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2025

Synthesis of Esters Via a Greener Steglich Esterification in Acetonitrile
Published on: October 30, 2018
Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of some 2,4-diketo esters containing dehydrozingerone fragment:
Kristina Mihajlović1, Nenad Joksimović1, Nenad Janković2
1University of Kragujevac, Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Radoja Domanovića 12, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia.
Abstract:
Due to the increased resistance to antibiotics, in recent years there has been a growing interest in the discovery of new antimicrobial agents from different sources. Bacteria that are resistant to most antibiotics are a global public health concern. In order to find a new antimicrobial drug, we synthesized a small series of 2,4-diketo esters and tested them on some gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Two compounds showed very good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, respectively. Trichophyton mentagrophytes proved to be the most sensitive of the tested species regarding antifungal activity. Also, research was conducted on the biomolecule of bovine serum albumin. Examining these interactions, we concluded that all compounds have the appropriate binding affinity for bovine serum albumin, which is vital. Furthermore, to investigate the potential antitumor activity, interactions with DNA were carried out. Examining the interactions between our compounds and DNA using fluorescence, we concluded that all but one of the compounds interacts with the DNA molecule by intercalation. In addition, a molecular docking study was performed to investigate the binding mode of the tested compounds to DNA and bovine serum albumin. In conclusion, all the results indicate a great potential for the future application of these compounds in clinical practice in the future.
Related Concept Videos
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Intramolecular Claisen Condensation of Dicarboxylic Esters: Dieckmann Cyclization
Alkylation of β-Ketoester Enolates: Acetoacetic Ester Synthesis
β-Dicarbonyl Compounds via Crossed Claisen Condensations
Esters to β-Ketoesters: Claisen Condensation Mechanism
Carboxylic Acids to Methylesters: Alkylation using Diazomethane

