Synthesis and biological evaluation of 1,4-naphthoquinones and quinoline-5,8-diones as antimalarial and schistosomicidal agents.

ABSTRACT: Improving the solubility of polysubstituted 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives was achieved by introducing nitrogen in two different positions of the naphthoquinone core, at C-5 and at C-8 of menadione through a two-step, straightforward synthesis based on the regioselective hetero-Diels-Alder reaction. The antimalarial and the antischistosomal activities of these polysubstituted aza-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives were evaluated and led to the selection of distinct compounds for antimalarial versus antischistosomal action. The Ag(II)-assisted oxidative radical decarboxylation of the phenyl acetic acids using AgNO(3) and ammonium peroxodisulfate was modified to generate the 3-picolinyl-menadione with improved pharmacokinetic parameters, high antimalarial effects and capacity to inhibit the formation of ?-hematin.

SUBMITTER: Lanfranchi DA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3423093 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature