Novel fluorinated quaternary ammonium salts and their in vitro activity as trypanocidal agents

Abstract

As the impact of aromatic rings and fluorine substituents in commercial drugs is attributed to their electronic distribution and structure rigidity that determine metabolic stability and toxicity, 30 quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) of the form [X-CH 2 N (CH 3 ) 2 (CH 2 ) n CH = C(Ar 2 )] + I − (where X=H, Cl or I, n = 2 or 3, and Ar = m-C 6 H 4 CF 3 , p-C 6 H 4 CF 3 , m-C 6 H 4 F, p-C 6 H 4 F or C 6 H 5 ) were tested as potential trypanocidal agents and assessed their cytotoxicity on U-937 cells. CF 3 -substituted QASs exhibited LC 50 values in the range of 0.5 to 6.4 μg/mL and trypanocidal EC 50 values between 0.6 and 7.0 μg/mL, while the LC 50 values for F-substituted analogs are between 7.0 and 207 μg/mL and EC 50 values range from 3.8 to 40.9 μg/mL. As a general trend, the more effective are those bearing an N-iodomethyl moiety or having a longer tether, and para-substituted ones. Few drugs therapies are in use for Chagas disease, so this study becomes a promising contribution.

Advances in the Synthesis of Biologically Active Quaternary Ammonium Compounds

“…On the contrary, trimethylfluoro substitution resulted in greater cytotoxicity. Furthermore, para-substitution tended to render improved antiprotozoal QACs [163].…”

“…To mitigate the toxicity and safety concerns associated with traditional pharma-Scheme 75. Synthesis of trypanocidal QACs 117 [163].…”