Effects of Varied Substituents on the Antibacterial Activity of Triazolylmethyl Oxazolidinones

A number of 1,2,3‐triazolylmethyl piperazino oxazolidinone derivatives with optionally varied substituents at the 4 N ‐piperazine position were synthesized and their antibacterial activity evaluated against a panel of susceptible and resistant Gram‐positive and selected Gram‐negative bacteria. Substitution with 5‐membered heteroaroyl and dinitrobenzoyl moieties potentiated activity against staphylococci and enterococci strains. Furthermore, the compounds having dinitrobenzoyl 7n , 7o , and 5‐nitrofuroyl 7t substitutions were four‐ to eightfold more potent than linezolid against M. catarrhalis . However, substitution of guanidino and other water‐solubilizing functionalities at the 4 N ‐piperazine position resulted in compounds that are devoid of antibacterial activity.