A series of 8-substituted-9,1-(epoxymethano)-7-fluoro-5-oxo-5H- thiazolo[3,2-a]quinoline-4-carboxylic acids having a novel tetracyclic structure was synthesized and tested for antibacterial activity. The nature of the heteroatom (N, O, or S) substituted at the 8-position had little influence on the antibacterial activity. Among the six pyrrolidinyl derivatives and the five piperazinyl derivatives, the 8-(3-hydroxy-1-pyrrolidinyl) derivative 6h and the hydrochloride of the 8-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl) derivative 6l showed the most potent activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Against nalidixic acid resistant strains, isolated from Escherichia coli KC-14, compound 6h was less potent than 6l. Replacement of the piperazinyl nitrogen atom by a carbon atom, an oxygen atom, or a sulfur atom (corresponding to the piperidino, morpholino, or thiomorpholino group, respectively) enhanced the activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but reduced the activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Compound 6l also showed potent in vivo antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and did not cause convulsions in mice with the concomitant administration of fenbufen. Replacement of the carboxy group by a sulfonic acid group in 6l resulted in a complete loss of antibacterial activity.

A series of novel pyridone carboxylic acids having a 4-hydroxypiperazinyl group at the 7-position of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin were prepared. The in vivo antibacterial efficacies of these compounds were superior to those of corresponding piperazinyl derivatives. From the results of the studies on the pharmacokinetic profile and toxicity, the 4-hydroxypiperazinyl derivatives were confirmed to be pharmacologically superior to corresponding piperazinyl derivatives. Thus, a 4-hydroxypiperazinyl group was revealed to be a beneficial substituent for potential use in future quinolone antibacterials.

The chemical oxidation of N-[(5-methyl-2-oxo-1,3-dioxol-4-yl)methyl] norfloxacin (2) was carried out to afford N-[(4-methyl-5-methylene-2-oxo-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)oxy]norfloxacin (4). In vitro, 4 exhibited lower activity than that of norfloxacin (NFLX, 1) for both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. However, in vivo the activity of 4 was higher than that of NFLX. Bioavailability studies in mice showed that 4 liberated a higher concentration of NFLX in plasma than NFLX itself when administered orally. From these data, 4 obtained by the chemical oxidation of 2 functioned as a prodrug of NFLX as well as did 2. The mechanism of the formation of 4 is interpreted in terms of [2,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement.

1‐Hydroxypiperazine dihydrochloride 7 was prepared and it was applied to the syntheses of new pyridone carboxylic acid antibacterial agents (PCA‐antibacterial agents). 1‐Cyclopropyl‐6,8‐difluoro‐1,4‐dihydro‐7‐(4‐hydroxypiperazin‐1‐yl)‐4‐oxoquinoline‐3‐carboxylic acid 13 showed the most potent antibacterial activity.

A series of 6-fluoro- and 6,8-difluoro-7-(azole substituted)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-3-quinolinecarboxylic acids were prepared. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that the antibacterial potency was better when the 6,8-substituents were fluorine atoms and the 7-substituent was either 1-imidazolyl, 20, or 4-methyl-1-imidazolyl, 25. From the results of studies on pharmacokinetic profile and toxicity, 20 and 25 were found to possess excellent antibacterial activities and to show high blood levels after oral administration to mice with low toxicity.