Design and synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives as antimycobacterial agents

Abstract A series of 2,5‐disubstituted benzimidazole derivatives was synthesized with the aim to identify compounds with potent anti‐TB activity. All the compounds were screened in vitro against cultured Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv strain and found to be exhibiting MIC 99 values in the range of 0.195–100 µM. Out of 43 synthesized compounds, two compounds 11h and 13e showed better anti‐TB activity than the reference drug isoniazid.