Synthesis of some novel amodiaquine analogues as potential antimalarial and antifilarial compounds.

Ten amodiaquine analogues, which are hybridized molecules of amodiaquine and diethylcarbamazine, were designed and synthesized. Six analogues, all bearing a basic tertiary amino function at their side chain, were active against Plasmodium berghei in mice and inhibited the mobility of adult worms and microfilariae of Breinlia booliati in vitro. They were inactive against Litomosoides carinii in Mastomys natalensis. The most active antimalarial compound, 7-chloro-4-[alpha-[[N-(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)carbonyl]amino]-4-hydroxy-m-toluidino]quinoline, had twice the activity of amodiaquine. O-Methylation and N-ethylation generally reduced antimalarial activity. Analogues which lack a basic tertiary amino function at their side chain were also lacking in both antimalarial and antifilarial activities.