Antiplasmodial bioassay guided fractionation of a Madagascar collection of
Crinum firmifolium led to the isolation of seven compounds. Five of the
seven compounds were determined to be 2-alkylquinolin-4(1H)-ones with
varying side chains. Compounds 1 and 4 were determined to be
known compounds with reported antiplasmodial activities, while 5 was believed
to be a new branched 2-alkylquinolin-4(1H)-one, however, it was isolated
in limited quantities and in admixture and therefore was synthesized to confirm its
structure as a new antiplasmodial compound. Along with 5, two other new and
branched compounds 6 and 7 were synthesized as well.
Accompanying the five quinolones were two known compounds 2 and
3 which are inactive against Plasmodium falciparum. The
isolation, structure elucidation, total synthesis, and biological evaluation of these
compounds are discussed in this article.