Synthesis and evaluation of antimalarial activity of oxygenated 3-alkylpyridine marine alkaloid analogues.

A series of new oxygenated analogues of marine 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids were prepared from 3-pyridinepropanol in few steps and in good yields. The key step for the synthesis of these compounds was a Williamson etherification under phase-transfer conditions. All new compounds were evaluated for their antiplasmodial activity and cytotoxicity. A significant reduction in parasitaemia was observed for some of the prepared compounds, and the majority of them exhibited a selectivity index (SI) ranging from 2.78 to 15.58, which suggests that these compounds may be a promising class of substances with antimalarial activity.