Abstract In order to optimize the antileishmanial activity of piperazinyl-linked 5-(5-nitrofuran- 2-yl)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazoles, we synthesized a series of 5-(5-nitrofuran-2-y1)-1, 3, 4-thiadiazoles with piperazinyl-linked benzamidine substituent as scaffold found in pentamidine related antiprotozoals. The structure of target compounds was confirmed by IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR and Mass spectral data. All compounds were tested for in vitro activity against the ...