Compound 5c, with an electron-withdrawing group (NO2), exhibited optimal antibacterial activit
The article’s emphasis on introducing electron-withdrawing groups (such as NO₂) to improve antibacterial activity connects to what we learned about how substituents affect molecular reactivity and interactions. Electron-withdrawing groups can stabilize charge distribution and enhance intermolecular interactions such as hydrogen bonding. This is consistent with the observation that compound 5c, which contains a nitro group, showed improved antibacterial activity. This relates to concepts from organic chemistry where substituents influence both reactivity and molecular binding through inductive and resonance effects.