Described herein are antimicrobial compounds identified via a high-throughput screen to identify compounds that produce anucleate cells in E. coli after cell division occurs. Compound 1 (5-nonyloxytryptamine) and its analogs are small molecule inhibitors of the nucleoid occlusion system and/or proteins that are responsible for maintaining the structure of the chromosome. The antimicrobial compounds are useful to treat bacterial infections as well as to inhibit bacterial growth.