The adaptation of microorganisms to antibiotics is common in all strains. This development of antibiotic resistance is significantly accelerated by the excessive use of antibiotics. One way to fight this severe problem is the search and development of new potentially antimicrobial agents. Three series of newly synthesized trifluoromethyl-substituted N-arylcinnamamides were tested for their anti-infective activity. These series differ in the position of the trifluoromethyl substituent on the phenyl core of the cinnamic acid. All compounds were tested against Staphylococcus aureus and its methicillin-resistant forms, Enterococcus faecalis, and Mycobacterium smegmatis. The activity was determined by the microdilution method for the assessment of minimum inhibitory concentration. For this contribution, one chlorine-substituted compound at position 4 of the anilide ring from each group was selected for activity comparison. The influence of the position of trifluoromethyl group is discussed.

This study was supported by Palacky University Olomouc (IGA_PrF_2020_023).