Preparation and antimicrobial studies of acyclic sulfamates.

A series of acyclic sulfamates have been prepared and tested for antimicrobial activity. Thus, the oxysulfonyl isocyanates, ROSO2NCO (1a, R = 4-methoxyphenyl; 1b, R = phenyl; 1c, R = 4-chlorophenyl and 1d, R = 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) have been prepared in 76-91% yield from chlorosulfonyl isocyanate. Treatment of 1a-d with glycidol gave the glycidyl carbamates 2a d. Internal cyclisation afforded the corresponding 4-hydroxymethyl-2-oxazolidinones 3a-d, which in turn were hydrolysed to give the free amino alcohols 4a-d. The yields were in the range 39-85%. A preliminary agar diffusion test of 2a-d, 3a-d, 4a-d indicated 2a-d and 3c to be possible antimicrobial agents. A more thorough analysis of these compounds revealed a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 128 and 64 mg l-1 for glycidyl p-methoxyphenoxysulfonylcarbamate (2a) and glycidyl phenoxysulfonylcarbamate (2b) respectively, against Branhamella catarrhalis.