Design and Synthesis of Novel Phthalide Derivatives containing 1,3,4-Oxadiazole/1,2,4-Triazole Units as Potential Antifungal Agents

Abstract

Four series of novel 1,3,4-oxadiazole/1,2,4-triazole hybrids of phthalide derivatives were designed and synthesized to search for novel potential antifungal agents. Preliminary antifungal activity assay results showed that compounds 4 a, 4 b, 4 m, 5 b, 5 f, 5 h, and 7 h exhibited moderate to excellent inhibitory activity against some phytopathogenic fungi. Among them, compound 5 b displayed the most outstanding antifungal effects against V. mali and S. sclerotiorum, with the EC₅₀ mean of 3.96 μg/mL and 5.60 μg/mL, respectively, which was superior to those of commercial fungicides hymexazol and chlorothalonil. Furthermore, compound 5 b could completely suppress the spore germination of V. mali at a concentration of 10 μg/mL. Finally, molecular docking revealed that the potential target for the antifungal activity of compound 5 b was succinate dehydrogenase (SDH). This research provides novel candidate compounds for the prevention of phytopathogenic fungi.

Keywords: 1,2,4-triazole; 1,3,4-oxadiazole; Phthalide; antifungal activity.