Described are a series of 2-pyridone compounds as a potent and selective new class of type II topoisomerase inhibitors with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity having the general formula (I)； where R1, R2, X, and Y are defined herein Such compounds can be used in methods for treating an infection caused by a gram-positive pathogen, a gram-negative pathogen, or a drug-resistant strains thereof.
