Fluoronaphthyridines as antibacterial agents. 4. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of 5-substituted-6-fluoro-7-(cycloalkylamino)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,8- naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acids.

A series of 5-substituted-6-fluoro-7-(cycloalkylamino)-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-1,8- naphthyridine-3-carboxylic acids have been prepared and tested for their in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities. The 5-methyl group gave better in vitro activity with the 1-cyclopropyl appendage, but poorer activity with the 1-tert-butyl moiety. With the 1-(2,4-difluorophenyl) substitution, the influence of the 7-cycloalkylamino group was determinant: a (3S)-3-amino-pyrrolidine was shown to enhance greatly the in vitro and in vivo activity of the 5-methyl derivative. Compound 33 (BMY 43748) was selected as a promising candidate for an improved therapeutic agent.