Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of imidazole and pyridine appended cholestane-based conjugates

A series of 3α-amino-5α-cholestane and 3α,7α-diamino-5α-cholestane derivatives containing imidazole and pyridine rings were synthesized by simple and effective reductive amination, and their in vitro activities against a range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains were evaluated. Most of the compound exhibited enhanced activity against MRSA pathogen. 3α,7α-Di(pyridylmethyl)amino-5α-cholestane 10 showed the highest potency in these series toward the Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus epidermidis 887E, with the lowest MIC value of 1 μg/mL.