Synthesis and antimicrobial activities of some ethyl 2-arylthio-6-arylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazole-3-carboxylates and their sulfones

A series of new 2-arylthio-3-ethoxycarbonyl-6-arylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (4a–4h) and 2-arenesulfonyl-3-ethoxycarbonyl-6-arylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (5a–5h) have been prepared and characterized by analytical and spectral methods. The title compounds 4a–4h and 5a–5h were obtained by the reaction of 2-amino-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-arylthiothiazoles (2a and 2b)/2-amino-4-ethoxycarbonyl-5-arenesulphonyl-thiazoles (3a and 3b) with various phenacyl bromides in anhydrous ethanol. These newly synthesized compounds (4a–4h and 5a–5h) were screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, and antifungal properties against Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans.