B. Venugopalan et al., ANTIMALARIAL ACTIVITY OF NEW ETHERS AND THIOETHERS OF DIHYDROARTEMISININ, European journal of medicinal chemistry, 30(9), 1995, pp. 697-706
Various ethers and thioethers of dihydroartemisinin were prepared by t
reating dihydroartemisinin with hydroxy alkyl, substituted phenol, hyd
roxy aralkyl, hydroxy alkynyl and hydroxy heteroalkyl or thiols in the
presence of BF(3)Et(2)O. The thioethers 64 and 65 were further oxidis
ed to the respective sulfoxides. These derivatives were tested in the
Plasmodium berghei K-173-infected mice and some active compounds were
tested in chloroquine-resistant P yoelii nigeriensis (NS)-infected mic
e. Initially the compounds were administered subcutaneously and subseq
uently by the oral route. The antimalarial activity of the compounds 2
2, 23, 36, 66 and 79 were found to be comparable to that of arteether
when tested in the K-173-infected mice. These compounds also showed ac
tivity in the P y nigeriensis (NS)-infected mice.