Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Antibacterial Evaluation of Barbituric Acid Derivatives

A series of 5,5′-(arylmethylene)bis[1,3-dimethyl-6-(methylamino)pyrimidine-2,4(1 H ,3 H )-diones] have been synthesized by 2: 1 condensation of 1,3-dimethylbarbituric acid with armatic aldehydes in the presence of methylamine. The synthesized compounds have been characterized by 1 H and 13 C NMR, IR, and mass spectra and tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Some of the compounds have shown antibacterial activity exceeding that of ampicillin used as reference drug.