From Structure to Function: 2-Chloro-5-nitrobenzoic Acid Derivatives as Potential Next-Generation Antibacterials

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant bacteria demands alternative antimicrobial strategies that extend beyond conventional drugs. In this study, we present the synthesis, structural characterization, and antibacterial evaluation of two new 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (2Cl5NBH) derivatives: a methylethanolammonium salt (compound 1) and a 2D coordination polymer (compound 2). Structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, complemented by Hirshfeld surface analysis, revealed the supramolecular architectures and highlighted the key intermolecular interactions, providing essential insights into the potential role of these compounds in modulating their physicochemical and biological behavior. Antibacterial assays demonstrated that compound 1 exhibited a broad inhibitory profile against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In contrast, compound 2 exhibited selective inhibition against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) comparable to that of gentamicin.