Discotic material hexakis(4‐carboxyphenylethynyl)benzene inhibits Escherichia coli growth via the glycolysis pathway

Abstract

Discotic materials and nanoparticles are potential carriers of synthetic chemicals to increase the bioavailability. Several planar discotic compounds were prepared with C–C bond formation by the Sonagoshira reaction. Their toxicity was based on their inhibition of Escherichia coli growth as well as a simple proteomic analysis. The partial analogues of hexakis(4‐carboxyphenylethynyl)benzene structures did not inhibit E. coli growth significantly. The possible metabolic pathway of hexakis(4‐carboxyphenylethynyl)benzene (1) may involve the downregulation of glycolytic proteins detected with a proteomic analysis. Hexakis(4‐carboxyphenylethynyl)benzene is found not only useful in liquid crystals but may also have utility in the development of novel antibiotics.