Synthesis and evaluation of 6-arylactamido-2,4-diaminoquinazolines and related compounds as folic acid antagonists.

A series of 2,4-diaminoquinazolines bearing an aryl function attached to the 6 position through an acetamido or related linkage was synthesized. Each compound was evaluated as an inhibitor of rat liver dihydrofolate reductase as well as for suppressive antimalarial effects against Plasmodium berghei in mice. Significant in vivo activity was found to reside primarily with 5-chloro-6-arylacetamido derivatives. Most of these compounds were also tested for prophylactic activity against sporozoite-induced Plasmodium gallinaceum in chicks. Thirteen compounds, each of which possesses a 5-Cl or 5-CH3 group, displayed curative activity in this test system. Since several of these showed markedly greater potency against the avian infection, selective inhibitory action upon preerythrocytic forms of the malaria parasite is thus implied.