Synthesis and Antifungal Evaluation of a amino acids

Amino acids are compounds which contain two functional groups: an amino group and a carboxylic acid group bonded to a carbon. In addition, the a carbon is bonded to R groups that differentiate each other1 . These compounds have been precursor in several searches from non-linear optics and the synthesis of a series of derivatives in order to develop more efficient medicines to combat various diseases like depression and Parkinson's disease. The a amino acids derivatives may demonstrate an increase in biological activity when It is used as adjuvants2. This work presents the synthesis and characterization of a amino acids in two steps: (i) reactions of aromatic p-substituted aldehydes (1a-d) in order to obtain a amino nitriles (2a-d) and (ii) its hydrolysis with a 6M solution of HCI to obtain the a amino acids (3a-d), like the reaction scheme below. The compounds (3a-d) were purified by recrystallization in EtOH/water 1:1 with 61-70% yield and characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, MNR 1H e 13C). Antifungal activities of the Candida a/bicans ATCC 76485 and Candida tropicalis LM 98 were investigated. All of compounds inhibited the growth of Candida strains with MIC of 256 IJg.mL-1. The synthetic routes of the synthesis of the a amino acids were carried out in a simple and effective way with good yields. The results of the investigation can be considered from great to moderate considering the established parameters3.