Design, synthesis and evaluation of acridine and fused-quinoline derivatives as potential anti-tuberculosis agents.

Abstract The synthesis of twelve acridine and polycyclic acridine derivatives prepared via the Friedlander reaction is described. The one-pot reactions of 2-amino-5-chloro or 5-nitro-benzophenones and a variety of cyclanones and indanones were carried out in a MW oven under TFA catalysis in good yields. The products were designed according natural antituberculosis products and were evaluated for growth inhibitory activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv (Mtb) through the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID, USA). Three of them underwent additional testings. The cyclopenta[ b ]quinoline derivative 9 and the acridine derivative 13 showed remarkable MIC values against the rifampin resistant strain. The former exhibited bactericidal activity at 50 μg/mL, its intracellular activity is similar to rifampin and it was not cytotoxic at low concentrations so it can be considered a new lead compound.