Abstract
Imidazo[4,5‐c]pyrazole derivatives (3a–f, 4a–f, and 5a–f) were efficiently synthesized by one‐pot three‐component reactions using CeO2–MgO as the catalyst. The synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and mass spectroscopic analyses. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds against various bacterial and fungal strains was screened. Compound 3b was highly active [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): 0.5 μg/mL] against Gram‐positive Staphylococcus aureus, and compounds 3b, 3f, 4d, and 4e were highly active (MIC: 0.5, 2, 2, and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively) against Gram‐negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae, relative to standard ciprofloxacin in the antibacterial activity screening. Compounds 3b and 4f were highly active (MIC: 4 and 0.5 μg/mL, respectively) against Aspergillus fumigatus and Microsporum audouinii in the antifungal activity screening compared with the clotrimazole standard.