Synthesis of 2-(aminomethyl)aziridines and their microwave-assisted ring opening to 1,2,3-triaminopropanes as novel antimalarial pharmacophores.

A variety of 2-(aminomethyl)aziridines was prepared and converted into the corresponding 1,2,3-triaminopropanes through a novel, microwave-assisted and regioselective ring opening by diethylamine in acetonitrile. Antiplasmodial assays revealed antimalarial activity for 2-[(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)methyl]aziridines and 2-(N,N-diethylaminomethyl)aziridines, as well as for the corresponding 1-(diethylamino)propanes obtained through ring opening, pointing to the relevance of both the 2-(aminomethyl)aziridine and the 1,2,3-triaminopropane unit as novel antimalarial pharmacophores.