Conformational analysis, electronic properties and molecular electrostatic potential of nitrofurans derivatives with antibacterial activity

The present investigation includes a combined computational study using the Molecular Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics methods, in 5-nitrofurane derivatives aiming to find the structural, electronic and electrostatic requirements they need to elicit antibacterial activity. Among the structural and electronic requirements for a potent biological activity in these derivatives, there is a common spatial orientation that was named ‘bioactive conformation’, electronic deficiency, low energy and low electronic density in the LUMO, a negative electrostatic potential in both oxygens of the nitro group and in the nitrogenated ring present in the lateral chain over C2 and a positive electrostatic potential region from the nitrogen atom in the nitro group to the hydrogen atoms attached to the carbon atoms in the furane ring.