Monoterpene Citral Derivatives as Potential Antimalarials

Conjugated acid derivatives containing nitrogen have been synthesized from the simple acyclic monoterpene citral, using various reactions, including Wittig, Baylis Hillman, amide and ester condensations. Similarly, amine peroxides were synthesized by subjecting citral to Mannich type reaction with amines and t-butyl hydroperoxide. Molecules 3-10 were evaluated for antimalarial activity against erythrocytic stages of chloroquine sensitive P. falciparum strain 3D7. Four derivatives displayed interesting activity with an IC50<2.5 mu M, and warrant further investigations.