In vitro antifungal properties structure-activity relationships and studies on the mode of action of N-phenyl, N-aryl, N-phenylalkyl maleimides and related compounds.

The synthesis, in vitro antifungal evaluation and structure-activity relationship studies of 14 compounds of the N-phenyl-, N-aryl-, N-phenylalkyl- maleimide and 3,4-dichloromaleimide series are reported. The compounds were evaluated against a panel of standardized yeasts and filamentous fungi as well as clinical isolates of Candida albicans. The activities of N-phenylalkyl-3,4-dichloromaleimide derivatives but not those of N-phenylalkyl-maleimide derivatives showed to be dependent on the length of the alkyl chain. N-Phenylpropyl-3,4-dichloromaleimide showed the broadest spectrum of action and lower minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) in all of the fungi tested. The nitrogen-carbon distance between the two rings seems to play an important role in the antifungal behavior of these compounds. The most active structure showed inhibited (1,3)beta-D-glucan and chitin synthases, enzymes that catalyze the synthesis of the major fungal cell-wall polymers.