Search for new pharmacophore as antimalarial agent: synthesis and antimalarial activity of some 2(3H)-furanones bearing quinoline moiety.

A series of substituted 3-[(substituted-2-chloroquinolin-3-yl)methylene]-5-(substituted-phenyl)-furan-2(3H)-ones (4a-p) have been synthesized and evaluated for their in vitro antimalarial activity against P. falciparum. The title compounds were synthesized by condensing 3-(substituted-benzoyl)propionic acids (3a-d) with substituted 2-chloroquinoline-3-carbaldehydes (2a-d) following modified Perkin's reaction. Compounds 3-[2-chloro-6-methylquinolin-3-yl)methylene]-5-(2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-furan-2(3H)-one (4n) and 3-[2-chloro-6-methoxyquinolin-3-yl)methylene]-5-(2,4-dimethyl-phenyl)-furan-2(3H)-one (4p) showed promising antimalarial activity with MIC of 10 microg/mL.