1-(Piperidin-3-yl)thymine amides as inhibitors of <i>M. tuberculosis</i> thymidylate kinase

A series of readily accessible 1-(piperidin-3-yl)thymine amides was designed, synthesised and evaluated as Mycobacterium tuberculosis TMPK ( Mtb TMPK) inhibitors. In line with the modelling results, most inhibitors showed reasonable Mtb TMPK inhibitory activity. Compounds 4b and 4i were slightly more potent than the parent compound 3 . Moreover, contrary to the latter, amide analogue 4g was active against the avirulent M. tuberculosis H37Ra strain (MIC 50 =35 µM). This finding opens avenues for future modifications.