| abstract |
Methods, compounds and compositions are provided for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic mycobacteria in vitro and of treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections, such as mycobacterial and clostridium infections, in vivo using bicyclic nitroimidazole compounds of the formula (II): <IMAGE> (II) wherein R1 is hydrogen, halogen, loweralkyl, haloloweralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle and heterocyclicalkyl; X is oxygen, sulfur or NK2, where R2 is hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, heterocyclicalkyl, COR3 or SO2R4CONR4R5, where R4 and R5 are independently selected from hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkoxyalkoxyaryl, alkylheterocycle, and alkoxyheterocycle; n is 1, 2 or 3; Y and Z are independently selected CH2, CO, CR4R5 or NR4, where R4 and R5 are as defined above; provided that when n is 2 or 3, the compounds of formula II can be additionally substituted as follows: <IMAGE> (IIa) <IMAGE> (IIb) wherein R6, R7, R8 and R9 are independently selected from hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkoxyalkoxyaryl, alkylheterocycle, and alkoxyheterocycle; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The methods, compounds and compositons are particularly useful for inhibiting the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Clostridium difficile. |