Nitro-[2,1-b]imidazopyran compounds and antibacterial uses thereof

Abstract

Methods, compounds and compositions are provided for inhibiting the growth of pathogenic microbes in vitro and of treatment of pathogenic bacterial infections, such as mycobacterial, Clostridium, Cryptosporidium and Helicobacter infections, in vivo using bicyclic nitroimidazole compounds of the formula (II): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1 is hydrogen, halogen, loweralkyl, haloloweralkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle and heterocyclicalkyl; X is oxygen, sulfur or NR.sub.2, where R.sub.2 is hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, cycloalkyl, heterocycle, substituted heterocycle, heterocyclicalkyl, COR.sub.3 or SO.sub.2 R.sub.4 CONR.sub.4 R.sub.5, where R.sub.3, R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are independently selected from hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alloxyalkoxyaryl, alkylheterocycle, and alkoxyheterocycle; n is 1, 2 or 3; Y and Z are independently selected from oxygen, CH.sub.2, CO, CR.sub.4 R.sub.5 or NR.sub.4, where R.sub.4 and R.sub.5 are as defined above; provided that when n is 2 or 3, the compounds of formula II can be additionally substituted as follows: ##STR2## wherein R.sub.6, R.sub.7, R.sub.8 and R.sub.9 are independently selected from hydrogen, loweralkyl, aryl, alkylaryl, alkoxyalkyl, alkoxyalkylaryl, alkoxyalkylheterocycle, alkylary2alkylaryl, alkylarylaryl, alkylcycloalkyl, alkoxyaryl, alkylheterocycle, and alkoxyheterocycle; and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.