Researches on antibacterial and antifungal agents. II - Synthesis of 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid, a novel highly active, broad-spectrum antibacterial agent related to piromidic acid.

The synthesis and antibacterial activities of 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-7-(1-pyrrolidinyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid are reported. The new analog of nalidixic acid has been prepared by standard procedure starting from 1-(3-aminophenyl)pyrrole; it showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity and exhibited much higher activity than nalidixic, pipemidic and piromidic acids. The synthesis of 1-ethyl-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-8-(1-pyrrolyl)quinoline-3-carboxylic acid is also described; this acid was inactive when tested as antibacterial agent.