No abstract

The combination of TMSOTf and AgClO(4) promotes the efficient C-10-phenoxylation of dihydroartemisinin (3) in good chemical yield and excellent stereoselectivity. All of the new phenoxy derivatives have potent in vitro antimalarial activity. On the basis of the excellent yield and stereoselectivity obtained for the p-trifluoromethyl derivative 7b, this compound and the parent phenyl-substituted derivative 5b were selected for in vivo biological evaluation against Plasmodium berghei in the mouse model and for metabolism studies in rats. Compound 7b demonstrated excellent in vivo antimalarial potency with an ED(50) of 2.12 mg/kg (cf. artemether = 6 mg/kg) versus P. berghei. Furthermore, from preliminary metabolism studies, this compound was not metabolized to dihydroartemisinin; suggesting it should have a longer half-life and potentially lower toxicity than the first-generation derivatives artemether and arteether. From biomimetic Fe(II)-catalyzed decomposition studies and ESR spectroscopy, the mechanism of action of these new lead antimalarials is proposed to involve the formation of both primary and secondary C-centered cytotoxic radicals which presumably react with vital parasite thiol-containing cellular macromolecules.

No abstract

No abstract

Several artemisinin derivatives linked to benzylamino and alkylamino groups were synthesized in order to enhance accumulation within the malaria parasite. The in vitro antimalarial activity was assessed against the chloroquine sensitive HB3 strain and the chloroquine resistant K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. In general the incorporation of amino functionality enhances the activity relative to artemisinin. The most potent analogue in the series was compound 6 which was severalfold more active than artemisinin against both strains of P. falciparum used in the study.