Organometallic analogs of chloroquine (CQ) are of interest as drug candidates that may be able to overcome the widespread chloroquine resistance developed by malaria parasites. Two new chromium arene CQ-analogs: [η(6)-N-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-N'-(2-dimethylamino-methylbenzyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine]tricarbonylchromium 4 and [η(6)-N-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-N'-(2-dimethylaminobenzyl)-ethane-1,2-diamine]tricarbonylchromium 9 have been synthesized and characterized. In addition, X-ray crystal structures of the intermediates (η(6)-benzyldimethylamine)tricarbonylchromium 2, [η(6)-2-((dimethylamino)methyl) benzaldehyde]tricarbonylchromium 3 and p-(η(6)-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde)tricarbonyl chromium 8 are reported. Compound 4 was more active than chloroquine against both CQ-sensitive and CQ-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum when antimalarial activity was tested in vitro. The activity of 4 against the CQ-resistant parasite strain was twice as high as for the organic ligand alone (IC(50) values of 33.9 nM versus 63.1 nM).
Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc.