Reduction of the azomethine bond of 2-acetylpyridine thio- and selenosemicarbazones with sodium borohydride readily afforded the corresponding thio- or selenosemicarbazides when they were N4,N4-disubstituted. This conversion failed, however, when the thio- or selenosemicarbazones were N4-substituted or unsubstituted. A more general route to the desired thio- or selenosemicarbazides consisted of reduction with sodium borohydride of methyl 3-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate to give the 2-pyridylethyl derivative. Displacement of methyl mercaptan from the thio ester moiety of the latter by amines produced 1-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]-3-thiosemicarbazides. These compounds were somewhat more active as antimalarial agents in Plasmodium berghei infected mice than the corresponding thiosemicarbazones; however, the enhancement of activity was accompanied by an increase in toxicity. Compound 7, 3-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane-3-carbothioic acid 2-[1-(2-pyridyl)ethyl]hydrazide, is the most potent derivative of 2-acetylpyridine we have evaluated to date.

A series of 1-acetylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazones was prepared in order to evaluate their antimalarial properties. This was achieved by the reaction of 1-acetylisoquinoline with methyl hydrazinecarbodithioate to give methyl 3-[1-(1-isoquinolinyl)ethylidene]hydrazinecarbodithioate (II). Displacement of the S-methyl group from this intermediate by various primary and secondary amines afforded the desired 1-acetylisoquinoline thiosemicarbazones (III). Thiosemicarbazides in which the azomethine moiety of the latter was reduced could be prepared by the reaction of II with NaBH4 to give methyl 3-[1-(1-isoquinolinyl)ethyl]hydrazinecarbodithioate (VIII). Reaction of VII with the appropriate amine gave 1-[1-(1-isoquinolinyl)ethyl]thiosemicarbazides (IX). Evaluation of the antimalarial activity of series III and IX in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei indicated that cures were attainable at dose levels of 40-160 mg/kg.

Aus den Acylpyridinen (I) erhält man mit dem Dithiokohlensäurehydrazid (ll).die Hydrazone (III), die mit Aminen (IV) zu den Thiosemicarbazonen (V) umgesetzt werden.

In Analogie zu entsprechenden, bekannten Pyridinderivaten werden ausgehend von Acetylchinolin (I) über den Dithioester(III) die Thiosemicarbazone (V) dargestellt, wobei im Falle von (Vb) das Thiadiazol (VI) als Nebenprodukt beobachtet wird.

Durch Reduktion der entsprechenden Thio‐ und Seleno‐semicarbazone mit Natriumborhydrid erhält man die Verbindungen (I), von denen das Azabicyclononanderivat (II) die höchste Antimalariawirkung besitzt.