Synthesis and antimycobacterial properties of N-substituted 6-amino-5-cyanopyrazine-2-carboxamides

A series of fifteen new compounds related to pyrazinamide (PZA) were synthesized, characterized with analytical data and screened for antimycobacterial, antifungal and antibacterial activity. The series consists of 6-chloro-5-cyanopyrazine-2-carboxamide and N-substituted 6-amino-5-cyanopyrazine-2-carboxamides, derived from the previous by nucleophilic substitution with various non-aromatic amines (alkylamines, cycloalkylamines, heterocyclic amines). Some of the compounds exerted antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis equal to pyrazinamide (12.5-25 μg/mL). More importantly, 6-chloro-5-cyanopyrazine-2-carboxamide and 5-cyano-6-(heptylamino)pyrazine-2-carboxamide were active against Mycobacterium kansasii and Mycobacterium avium, which are unsusceptible to PZA. Basic structure-activity relationships are presented. Only weak antifungal and no antibacterial activity was detected.