Seventeen cyclic ureas containing imidazolidine and benzimidazoline nuclei were synthesised by the reaction of electron-rich olefins with appropriate group 16 elements (O, S, Se, Te). The compounds synthesised were identified by H-1, C-13-NMR, FT-IR and mass spectroscopic techniques and micro analysis. All compounds studied in this work were screened for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against standard strains: Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213), Escherichia coli (ATCC) 25922) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853).
Eight of the compounds were found effective to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus Faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus) at MIC values between 25-400 mu g/ml.
None of the compounds exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli; and Pseudmonas aeruginosa) at the concentrations studied (6.25-800 mu g/ml).