Synthesis and antibacterial activity of 2-substituted 6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids.

A series of 2-substituted 6-fluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids was prepared and evaluated for antibacterial activity. The 6-fluoro-2-methyl-1-prenyl-1,4-dihydro-7-(3,5-dimethylpiperazinyl)-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acid (14f) exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria among the total 32 derivatives. The synthetic strategies involve the use of well known keto ester condensation of benzoyl chloride and reductive cyclization of intermediates (4a-d) to afford 4-hydroxy-1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-quinoline derivatives (5a,b) or 1-hydroxy-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-quinoline derivatives (6a,b).