Various oxygen containing 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives have been synthesized chemoselectively by an economical, viable green methodology approach using water as solvent with or without surfactants such as Triton X-100, SDS, LD (laundry detergent) and TBAB, a phase transfer catalyst and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activity. The antifungal profile of 3, 4a, 4b and 6 indicated that compounds 3a, 3b, 4b, 6a and 6c have potent antifungal activity compared to clinically prevalent antifungal drugs Fluconazole and Amphotericin-B against Sporothrix schenckii, Trichophyton mentagraphytes and Candida parapsilosis and compound 3b has been found to be a lead antifungal agent for further study.
