FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 659 SYNTHESIS OF NEW 2-(4-METHYLPHENOXYMETHYL)BENZOIC ACID THIOUREIDES CARMEN LIMBAN1, ALEXANDRU-VASILE MISSIR1, ILEANA CORNELIA CHIRIŢA1, GEORGE MIHAI NIŢULESCU1, LAURENŢIU MORUSCIAG1, CAMELIA ELENA STECOZA1, DIANA CAMELIA NUŢĂ1, CARMELLINA DANIELA BĂDICEANU1, MIRON TEODOR CĂPROIU2, CONSTANTIN DRĂGHICI2 1 Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Traian Vuia, 6, sect. 2, 020956, Bucharest 2 The Organic Chemistry Center of Romanian Academy "Costin D. Nenitescu”, Splaiul Independentei, 202B, 77208, Bucharest, Romania *corresponding author: carmen_limban@yahoo.com Abstract In this study were synthesized some new thioureides of the 2-(4-methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoic acid with potential antimicrobial activity and theirs chemical structures have been confirmed by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and IR spectra and by elemental analysis. Rezumat În cadrul acestui studiu am sintetizat noi tioureide ale acidului 2-(4-metilfenoximetil)-benzoic, substanţe cu potenţială acţiune antimicrobiană, ale căror structuri chimice au fost confirmate de spectrele 1H-RMN, 13C-RMN şi IR, precum şi de analiza elementală. thioureides 2-(4-methylphenoxymethyl)benzoic acid INTRODUCTION It is well known that many compounds bearing thioureide structure have been reported to have antimicrobial, antifungal and anthelmintic activity. Considering these biological activities, in the previously papers [15] we have presented the synthesis and characterization of some thioureides of the 2-phenoxymethyl-benzoic acid unsubstituted or substituted with chloro, methyl or methoxy group and for some of these compounds theirs antimicrobial activity. 660 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 Experimental The 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid synthesis A solution containing 0.05 mol of freshly distilled para-cresol in 30 mL xylene was placed in a round-bottom flask, equipped with a water removing device. Subsequently, 0.055 mol of potassium hydroxide were added. The reaction mixture was refluxed until resulting water was removed by azeotropic distillation, while potassium para-cresolate precipitated at the bottom. 0.05 Mol of phtalide were added and the mixture was refluxed until it solidifies. The precipitate was heated for solubilisation with 10% potassium hydroxide solution and then it was diluted with 50 mL of water. The aqueous phase was separated and acidulated with 1M hydrochloric acid solution until the mixture became acidic (pH 3), when the 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid precipited. The resulting precipitate is crystallized from water: ethanol (1: 1) mixture, showing a m.p. 122.5- 125.50C. 7.2 g 2-(4-Methyl-phenoxymethyl)-benzoic acid (Wt 242.26) resulted (59.5% yield). The 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride synthesis 0.02 Mol of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid, 30 mL of dry 1,2-dichloroethane and 0.042 mol of thionyl chloride were placed in a round-bottom flask equipped with a condenser and drying tube. The mixture was refluxed for 3 hours. The excess thionyl chloride and the solvent were removed by reduced pressure. For the next step the acid chloride was used in crude status. 1,2-Dichloroethane was anhydrized over calcium chloride and distillated at normal pressure. The new thioureides synthesis (general procedure) To a solution of ammonium thiocyanate (0.01 mol) in 5 mL dry acetone was added a solution of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)-benzoyl chloride (0.01 mol) in 10 mL dry acetone. The acetone was dried over potassium carbonate and the ammonium thiocyanate by heating at 1000C. The reaction mixture was refluxed one hour in a one round-bottom flask with a condenser and a drying tube. After cooling, 0.01 mol of dry and freshly distilled primary aromatic amine in 2 mL dry acetone were added by stirring to the reaction mixture. The mixture was afterwards refluxed for one hour. The product was precipitated after the cool reaction mixture was poured in 500 mL water. 661 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 The crude thioureides obtained were crystallised from isopropanol with active carbon. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The synthesis of the new thioureides was performed in three stages. The 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid synthesis In the first step, 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid (1) was obtained by treating phtalide (2) with potassium para-cresolate in xylene, under reflux. First the potassium salts of 2-(4-methylphenoxymethyl)benzoic acid (3) was obtained and, by having a good solubility in a 10% potasium hydroxide aqueous solution, can be separated from xylene. The acid 1 was removed from the salts by hydrochloric acid solution treatment. The potassium para-cresolate was obtained through the reaction of para-cresol with potassium hydroxide in xylene reaction medium. The resulting water was removed by azeotropic distillation. The reactions are presented in the Scheme 1. CH2 - + OK O + H3C O COO K + CH3 O 2 3 HCl - KCl O CH2 COOH CH3 1 Scheme 1 The synthesis of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid The 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride synthesis In the second stage of the synthesis, the 2-(4-methylphenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride (4) was obtained by reacting for three hours the acid (1) with thionyl chloride, in 1,2-dichlorethane made anhydric with calcium chloride. After the removal of the excess reactant and the reaction medium, the raw acid chloride was used in the next stage. Scheme 2 presents the mentioned reaction. 662 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 O CH2 CH3 COOH O CH2 SOCl2 CH3 COCl 4 1 Scheme 2 The synthesis of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride The new thioureides synthesis In the third stage the 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride was reacted with ammonium thiocyanate, dried at 1000C, and 2-(4methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl isothiocyanate (5) was obtained. The reaction time was one hour and the reaction medium was acetone dried on potassium carbonate. The obtained isothiocyanate was not separated and the new thioureides (6a-g) resulted after adding the corresponding primary aromatic amines in the reaction medium, while the reflux continued for another hour. O CH2 CH3 C-Cl O O CH2 O C NH 6.a. , 5 CH3 C NH 6a-g R S O R= CH3 C-N=C=S 4 H2N-R O CH2 NH4SCN C3H7-iso 6.c. , C3H7-n 6.b. , n-H7C3 C4H9-sec 6.e. , 6.f. , C4H9-tert 6.g. tert-C4H9 Scheme 3 The synthesis of the new thioureides C4H9-n 6.d. 663 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 The new thioureides are solid, crystallized, white or light yellow, soluble at normal temperature in acetone and chloroform and by heating in inferior alcohols, benzene, toluene and xylene, insoluble in water. The structure, molecular formula, molecular weight, melting point and yield of the new thioureides are presented in table I. Table I The new compounds characteristics 14 13 8 CH2 4 5 O 9 10 11 3 6 15 CH3 12 R 2 7 1 22 21 16 CO NH C NH 17 18 20 19 S No. R 5a. 2 CH2-CH2-CH3 5b. 4 CH2-CH2-CH3 5c. 4 CH(CH3)2 5d. 4 CH2-CH2-CH2-CH3 23 24 23 23 24 23 5e. 25 24 23 4 25 24 25 25 26 Molecular formula Molecular weight C25H26N2O2S 418.546 C25H26N2O2S 418.546 C25H26N2O2S 418.546 C26H28N2O2S 432.566 C26H28N2O2S 432.566 C26H28N2O2S 432.566 C26H28N2O2S 432.566 26 CH-CH2-CH3 24 CH3 23 24 5f. 2 C(CH3)3 5g. 4 C(CH3)3 23 24 Melting point Yield(%) (0C) 178.361 182.1 143.467 147.9 14473 147.3 84.371 87.6 111.7114.9 115.8118.6 126.4128.3 78 62 74 The melting points were determined at an Electrothermal 9100 apparatus and were uncorrected. The elemental analysis of the newly obtained compounds was performed with a Perkin Elmer CHNS/O Analyser Series II 2400 apparatus. The calculated formula provided by the elemental analysis results (table II) is in good agreement with the expected structures. 664 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 Table II The elemental analysis CH2 O CH3 R C-NH-C-NH O Nr. crt. 5a. 5b. 5c. 5d. 5e. 5f. 5g. R 2-C3H7-n 4-C3H7-n 4-C3H7-iso 4-C4H9-n 4-C4H9-sec 2-C4H9-tert 4-C4H9-tert c. 71.74 71.74 71.74 72.19 72.19 72.19 72.19 C% e. 71.25 71.33 71.36 72.03 72.31 72.37 72.41 S c. 6.26 6.26 6.26 6.52 6.52 6.52 6.52 H% e. 6.21 6.32 6.62 6.50 6.42 6.58 6.66 c. 6.69 6.69 6.69 6.48 6.48 6.48 6.48 N% e. 6.80 6.81 6.84 6.61 6.52 6.60 6.57 c. 7.66 7.66 7.66 7.41 7.41 7.41 7.41 S% e. 7.69 7.80 7.60 7.55 7.47 7.55 7.52 where: c = calculated, e = experimental Spectral data 1 H-NMR Spectra were performed at 300 MHz and those of 13CNMR were recorded at 75 MHz, using a Varian Gemini 300BB equipment, hexadeuterodimethylsulfoxid (CD3)2SO as solvent. Chemical shifts were recorded as δ values in parts per milion (ppm) relative with tetramethylsilane, Si(CH3)4, as internal standard. Multiplicities are given together with coupling constants in Hz. For unambiguous assignment 1Hdecoupling COSY 1H-1H and COSY 1H-13C were used. The molecular structure of the new compounds, deduced from the equations of the synthesis reactions, is confirmed by the values of the absorbtion bands from the IR spectra, collected with a FT-IR Bruker Vertex 70 spectrometer. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(2-propylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.23(bs, 1H, NH); 11.91(bs, 1H, NH); 7.63(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.56(m, 2H, H-4, H-6); 7.47(td, 1H, H-5, 7.1, 2.2); 7.30÷7.21(m, 4H, H-19-20-21-22); 7.06(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.4); 6.87(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.4); 5.25(s, 2H, H-8); 2.50(t, 2H, H-23); 2.21(s, 3H, H-15); 1.47(sxt, 2H, H, 24, 7.6); 0.79(t, 3H, H-25, 7.6). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 180.09(C-16); 170.37(C-1); 156.04(C-9); 146.01(C-18); 137.04(Cq); 136.16(Cq); 135.58(Cq); 129.53(Cq); 130.87(C- FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 665 7); 129.69(C-11-13); 129.65(CH); 128.53(C-4); 128.40(C-5); 127.71(C-6); 126.90(CH); 126.87(CH); 125.91(CH); 114.45(C-10-14); 67.48(C-8); 32.80(C-23); 22.88(C-24); 19.97(C-15); 13.51(C-25). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3160m; 3027m; 2959m; 2930m; 2869m; 1666m; 1610w; 1584w; 1510vs; 1449m; 1386m; 1329m; 1290m; 1263m; 1243vs; 1196m; 1160s; 1118m; 1073w; 1046m; 946w; 855w; 814w; 796w; 741m; 688w; 606w; 570w; 506w; 455w; 422w. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(4-propylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.27(bs, 1H, NH); 11.74(bs, 1H, NH); 7.62(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.60÷7.42(m, 3H, H-4-5-6); 7.49(d, 2H, H-1822, 8.5); 7.21(d, 2H, H-19-21, 8.5); 7.06(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.6); 6.87(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.26(s, 2H, H-8); 2.53(t, 2H, H-23, 7.1); 2.20(s, 3H, H-15); 1.60(sxt, 2H, H-24, 7.1); 0.91(t, 3H, H-25, 7.1). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 178.70(C-16); 170.12(C-1); 156.04(C-9); 140.52(C-20); 135.73(Cq); 135.56(Cq); 133.37(Cq); 129.58(Cq); 130.84(C7); 129.71(C-11-13); 128.41(C-4); 128.33(C-5); 128.20(C-6); 127.58(C-1921); 123.86(C-18-22); 114.56(C-10-14); 67.46(C-8); 36.67(C-23); 23.87(C24); 19.97(C-15); 13.51(C-25). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3322w; 3156w; 3037m; 2957w; 2923w; 2866w; 1670m; 1597m; 1507vs; 1443m; 1415m; 1379m; 1343m; 1293m; 1226s; 1176m; 1146s; 1084m; 1030m; 945w; 846w; 829w; 799w; 748m; 735m; 665w; 638w; 602w; 558w; 517w; 420w. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(4-isopropylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.38(bs, 1H, NH); 11.80(bs, 1H, NH); 7.61(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.60÷7.42(m, 3H, H-4-5-6); 7.50(d, 2H, H-1822, 8.3); 7.27(d, 2H, H-19-21, 8.3); 7.06(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.6); 6.87(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.26(s, 2H, H-8); 2.88(spt, 1H, H-23, 7.0); 2.21(s, 3H, H-15); 1.21(d, 6H, H-24, 7.0). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 178.86(C-16); 170.19(C-1); 156.13(C-9); 146.50(C-20); 135.80(Cq); 135.57(Cq); 133.34(Cq); 129.69(Cq); 131.00(C7); 129.81(C-11-13); 128.51(C-4); 128.35(C-5); 127.73(C-6); 126.42(C-1921); 124.22(C-18-22); 114.59(C-10-14); 67.51(C-8); 33.03(C-23); 23.82(C24); 20.08(C-15). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3339w; 3037w; 2961m; 2921w; 2866w; 1673m; 1595m; 1555m; 1509vs; 1416w; 1380w; 1347m; 1286m; 1223s; 1176w; 1144s; 1121m; 1031m; 946w; 855w; 826m; 803w; 776w; 750m; 669w; 639w; 603w; 536w; 519w; 432w. 666 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(4-n-butylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.39(bs, 1H, NH); 11.79(bs, 1H, NH); 7.62(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.61÷7.40(m, 3H, H-4-5-6); 7.49(d, 2H, H-1822, 8.1); 7.22(d, 2H, H-19-21, 8.1); 7.05(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.6); 6.88(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.26(s, 2H, H-8); 2.58(t, 2H, H-23, 7.5); 2.21(s, 3H, H-15); 1.56(qv, 2H, H-25, 7.5); 1.31(sxt, 2H, H-25, 7.5); 0.91(t, 3H, H-26, 7.5). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 178.80(C-16); 169.54(C-1); 156.13(C-9); 140.50(C-20); 135.82(Cq); 135.67(Cq); 133.34(Cq); 129.67(Cq); 130.99(C7); 129.81(C-11-13); 128.51(C-4); 128.34(C-5); 127.71(C-6); 128.38(C-1921); 124.08(C-18-22); 114.60(C-10-14); 67.51(C-8); 34.35(C-23); 33.04(C25); 21.73(C-24); 20.07(C-15); 13.76(C-26). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3320m; 3249s; 3025m; 2950s; 2930s; 2867m; 1691m; 1661m; 1597vs; 1530vs; 1508vs; 1361vs; 1292m; 1262s; 1216s; 1174m; 1150s; 1082m; 1013m; 961w; 852w; 817m; 800m; 762m; 734s; 653w; 638w; 613w; 532w; 510w; 459w. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(4-sec-butylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.21(bs, 1H, NH); 11.76(bs, 1H, NH); 7.62(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.61÷7.40(m, 3H, H-4-5-6); 7.52(d, 2H, H-1822, 8.5); 7.23(d, 2H, H-19-21, 8.5); 7.05(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.6); 6.88(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.26(s, 2H, H-8); 2.61(sxt, 1H, H-23, 7.0); 2.20(s, 3H, H-15); 1.56(qv, 2H, H-25, 7.0); 1.20(d, 3H, H-24, 7.0); 0.78(t, 3H, H-26, 7.0). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 178.63(C-16); 170.06(C-1); 156.05(C-9); 145.16(C-20); 135.72(Cq); 135.51(Cq); 133.25(Cq); 129.59(Cq); 130.89(C7); 129.70(C-11-13); 128.39(C-4); 128.34(C-5); 127.62(C-6); 126.89(C-1921); 123.92(C-18-22); 114.53(C-10-14); 67.46(C-8); 40.36(C-23); 30.41(C25); 21.52(C-24); 19.97(C-15); 11.93(C-26). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3324m; 3157w; 3034w; 2962m; 2917w; 2869w; 1674m; 1599m; 1508vs; 1446m; 1416w; 1380w; 1341m; 1292w; 1261m; 1224s; 1176w; 1142s; 1087w; 1029m; 959w; 857w; 828m; 802w; 748w; 670w; 603w; 539w; 518w. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(2-tert-butylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.27(bs, 1H, NH); 11.96(bs, 1H, NH); 7.62(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.3, 6.9); 7.55÷7.40(m, 3H, H-4-5-6), 7.27÷7.22(m, 4H, H-19-20-21-22); 7.08(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.4); 6.86(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.25(s, 2H, H-8); 2.21(s, 3H, H-15); 1.24(s, 9H, H-24). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 180.95(C-16); 170.83(C-1); 156.20(C-9); 145.18(C-17); 136.20(Cq); 135.63(Cq); 133.55(Cq); 131.17(CH); 130.98(C7); (C-7); 129.90(C-11-13); 129.81(Cq); 129.03(CH); 128.57(C-4); FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 667 128.05(C-5); 127.65(C-6); 126.75(CH); 126.34(CH); 114.65(C-10-14); 67.62(C-8); 34.48(C-23); 30.51(C-24); 20.14(C-15). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3334w; 3155w; 3032w; 2963w; 2872w; 1672m; 1607m; 1504vs; 1390m; 1326m; 1287m; 1222s; 1144s; 1035m; 948w; 856w; 825m; 792m; 743m; 678w; 608w; 557w; 518w; 480w. N-[2-(4-Methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoyl]-N’-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-thiourea 1 H-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm, J Hz): 12.28(bs, 1H, NH); 11.78(bs, 1H, NH); 7.62(dd, 1H, H-7, 1.2, 7.2); 7.61÷7.40(m, 3H, H-4-5-6); 7.53(d, 2H, H-1822, 8.7); 7.42(d, 2H, H-19-21, 8.7); 7.06(d, 2H, H-11-13, 8.6); 6.88(d, 2H, H-10-14, 8.6); 5.27(s, 2H, H-8); 2.20(s, 3H, H-15); 1.29(s, 9H, H-24). 13 C-NMR(dmso-d6, δ ppm): 178.70(C-16); 170.07(C-1); 156.05(C-9); 148.60(C-20); 135.74(Cq); 135.24(Cq); 133.30(Cq); 129.61(Cq); 130.87(C7); 129.70(C-11-13); 128.41(C-4); 128.24(C-5); 127.59(C-6); 125.21(C-1921); 123.65(C-18-22); 114.55(C-10-14); 67.47(C-8); 34.19(C-23); 31.24(C24); 19.98(C-15). FT-IR(ATR in solid, ν cm-1): 3369w; 3145w; 3036w; 2962m; 2869w; 1675m; 1588m; 1538s; 1509vs; 1443m; 1381w; 1337m; 1291w; 1261w; 1227s; 1177w; 1145s; 1051w; 1027m; 946w; 828m; 799w; 739m; 692w; 665w; 597w; 548w; 515w; 497w; 448w. The chemical structure of the synthesized compounds has been confirmed by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS We have synthesized seven new compounds, thioureides of the 2(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid. The synthesis involves three stages: 1) the synthesis of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acid; 2) the synthesis of 2-(4-methyl-phenoxymethyl)benzoyl chloride; 3) the synthesis of the new thioureides. The structure was confirmed by spectrophotometric methods (FT-IR and NMR) and by elemental analysis. The obtained thioureides will be further investigated to determinate their antimicrobial activity. Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge support for this work from the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Youth through project PN2 41043/2007. 668 FARMACIA, 2008, Vol.LVI, 6 REFERENCES 1. Balotescu M. C., Limban C., Missir Al. V., Chiriţă I. C., Niţulescu G. M. - The Synthesis and Biological Activities Of Some New 2-(4Methoxy-phenoxymethyl)benzoic Acid Thioureides - Revista de Chimie (Bucureşti), 58, 11, 2007, 1064-1068 2. Limban C., Balotescu Chifiriuc M. C, Missir Al. V., Chiriţă I. C., Bleotu C. Antimicrobial Activity of Some New Thioureides Derived from 2-(4-Chlorophenoxymethyl)benzoic Acid – Molecules, 2008, 13, 567- 580 3. Limban C., Missir Al., Chiriţă I.- Synthesis and characterization of some new thioureides of 2-(4-methoxy-phenoxymethyl)-benzoic acid with potential pharmacological activity - Timisoara Medical Journal, vol.55, supl.5, 2005, p.42- 44 4. Limban C., Missir Al., Chiriţă I. - Noi tioureide ale acidului 2fenoximetilbenzoic. Nota II. - Farmacia, 52, 5, 2004, 7- 12 5. Limban C., Missir Al. V., Chiriţă I. C., Bădiceanu C. D., Drăghici C., Balotescu M. C., Stamatoiu O. New thioureides of 2-(4-methylphenoxymethyl)-benzoic and 2-(4-methoxy-phenoxymethyl)benzoic acids with biological activity- Romanian International Conference on Chemistry and Chemical Engineering- RICCCE XIV, Sinaia, 19-22 sept. 2007