Synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of fluoro-containing aroylhydrazones.

2-Fluorobenzohydrazide reacted with various benzaldehydes afforded five new aroylhydrazones, which were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Detailed structures of four compounds were further determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Antibacterial activities of reported compounds on Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas fluorescence, and antifungal activities on Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger were assayed. The biological assay indicated that the presence of electron-withdrawing groups in the benzaldehydes can improve antimicrobial activities.