Synthesis and Evaluation of 3-Halobenzo[]thiophenes as Potential Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents.

The global health concern of antimicrobial resistance has harnessed research interest to find new classes of antibiotics to combat disease-causing pathogens. In our studies, 3-halobenzo[]thiophene derivatives were synthesized and tested for their antimicrobial activities using the broth microdilution susceptibility method. The 3-halo substituted benzo[]thiophenes were synthesized starting from 2-alkynyl thioanisoles using a convenient electrophilic cyclization methodology that utilizes sodium halides as the source of electrophilic halogens when reacted along with copper(II) sulfate.