Abstract

A new N-(4-methoxyphenacyl)imidazole and three new substituted N-(phenacyl)triazoles were prepared by reaction of the heterocycle with a phenacyl halide. The former ketone and one example of the latter were reduced to the corresponding alcohols. All six compounds were screened in vitro for antifungal activity against two pathogenic fungal strains, Candida albicans (fluconazole-resistant) and Aspergillus fumigatus. The results revealed that most of the compounds showed activity against both strains at 100 mu g mL(-1) and 80 mu g mL(-1), some comparable with control compound fluconazole. The alcohols were less active than the corresponding ketones.