Synthesis of racemic and optically active forms of novel antimalarial agents, spirocyclopentanone-anthracene adducts, via tandem Michael addition-Dieckmann condensation reactions as the key steps

Abstract

Spirocyclopentanone-anthracene adducts, novel antimalarial agents, have been synthesized by employing the racemic and the optically active dimethyl itaconate-anthracene adducts in a reaction with piperine via tandem Michael addition-Dieckmann condensation reactions as the key steps. All adducts exhibited antimalarial activity with IC50values of 3.4-4.7 μg/mL, and importantly displayed non-cytotoxicity to vero cells. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.