A series of 2-[5-(aryloxymethyl)-1, 3, 4-oxadiazol-2-ylsulfanyl] propanoic acids were synthesized and studied for their antibacterial activity. These compounds were prepared from aryloxyacetic acid hydrazides. Aryloxyacetic acid hydrazides 1 on refluxing with carbon disulfide and methanolic potassium hydroxide and then on subsequent acidification with hydrochloric acid furnished 5-aryloxymethyl-1, 3, 4-oxadiazole-2-thiones 2. 2-Chloro propanoic acid reacted with 2 in alkaline media and then on subsequent acidification yielded the title compounds 3. These compounds were characterized by modern spectroscopic techniques. All the compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial activity against two Gram negative strains (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two Gram positive strains (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined.
