Synthesis, DFT and antimicrobial activity assays in vitro for novel cis/trans-but-2-enedioic acid esters

Six novel cis/trans-but-2-enedioic acid esters had been synthesized to discover the new bioactive molecules that could kill food-related bacteria and fungi. Their structures were analyzed by melting point, LC–MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. 4-(Methoxycarbonyl) phenyl ethyl fumarate (6b) was also characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Their antimicrobial activities were evaluated in vitro by measuring the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). Compared with the single monomethyl fumarate and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, these compounds had stronger antimicrobial activity against all the eight microorganisms. Among the antibacterial and antifungal compounds, 4-(methoxycarbonyl) phenyl methyl fumarate (6a) showed the best antimicrobial activity. The electronic properties of these compounds were calculated by the density functional theory (DFT) method with 6-31G (d, p) basis set. DFT studies indicated that molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) map, ELUMO, energy gap, electronegativity and electrophilicity index could be helpful to understand the various antimicrobial activities among these compounds. The antimicrobial activity of compound 6a was evaluated in vitro against Salmonella choleraesuis subsp. choleraesuis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae by time–kill, and it was found that compound 6a exhibited significant microbiocidal activity against the three microorganisms.