Synthesis and antimycobacterial activity of some isonicotinoylhydrazones

A series of isonicotinoylhydrazones 2 were prepared by addition of some ary loxyacetonitriles with isonicotinoylhydrazine in basic medium. These compou nds have been further reacted with pyridinecarboxaldehydes to give the corr esponding pyridylmethyleneamino derivatives 3-5. The new synthesized hydraz ones and their pyridylmethyleneamino derivatives were tested for their acti vity against mycobacteria, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The cy totoxicity was also tested. Several compounds showed a good activity agains t Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and some isonycotinoylhydrazones 2 showe d a moderate activity against a clinically isolated M. tuberculosis which w as isoniazid resistant. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevi er SAS.