Synthesis, characterization, and antimicrobial evaluation of novel naphthalene-based 1,2,4-triazoles

In order to search for new bioactive molecules with significant antimicrobial action, a series of 1,2,4-triazole and naphthalene analogs bearing structurally diverse substituents, N-(3-mercapto-5-(naphthalen-1-yl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)(aryl)amides 3a–l were synthesized in good yield by a multi-step synthetic procedure. Their antimicrobial activity was screened against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Compounds 3a, 3f, 3g, 3j, and 3k exerted strong inhibition of the investigated bacterial and fungal strains compared to control antibiotic ampicillin and antifungal griseofulvin. On the basis of statistical analysis, it is observed that the compounds give significant co-relation. All the synthesized compounds have been characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and mass spectral data.