Chiral DNA gyrase inhibitors. 2. Asymmetric synthesis and biological activity of the enantiomers of 9-fluoro-3-methyl-10-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)-7-oxo-2,3-dihydro-7H- pyrido[1,2,3-de]-1,4-benzoxazine-6-carboxylic acid (ofloxacin).

A short and efficient synthesis, starting with (R)- and (S)-alaninol, of the two optical antipodes of the quinolone antimicrobial agent ofloxacin has been devised. Testing in vitro of the products against a range of bacteria and in an assay system incorporating purified DNA gyrase from different bacterial species demonstrates that the S-(-) enantiomer is substantially the more active.