Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of electron rich olefin derived cyclic ureas

Seventeen cyclic ureas containing imidazolidine and benzimidazoline nuclei were synthesised by the reaction of electron-rich olefins with appropriate group 16 elements. (O, S, Se, Te). The compounds synthesised were identified by 1H, 13C-NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopic techniques and micro analysis. All compounds studied in this work were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against standard strains: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). Eight of the compounds were found effective to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) at MIC values between 25-400 micrograms/ml. None of the compounds exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) at the concentrations studied (6.25-800 micrograms/ml).