Several potent oxazolidinone antibacterial agents were obtained by systematic modification of the linker between the five-membered heterocycle and the piperazinyl ring of RBx 7644 (Ranbezolid, 1) and its thienyl analogue 2, leading to the identification of an expanded spectrum compound RBx 8700 (6b).
Department of Medicinal Chemistry, New Drug Discovery Research, Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited, R&D III, Plot No. 20, Sector-18, Udyog Vihar Industrial Area, Gurgaon, Haryana 122015, India.