Synthesis and Evaluation of Novel 2,2-Dimethylthiochromanones as Anti-Leishmanial Agents

Abstract

Within this work, we describe the design and synthesis of a range of novel thiochromanones based on natural products reported to possess anti-leishmanial action, and their synthetic derivatives. All compounds were elaborated via the key intermediate 2,2,6-trimethoxythiochromanone, which was modified at the benzylic position to afford various ester, amine and amide analogues, substituted by chains of varying lipophilicity. Upon testing in <i>Leishmania</i>, IC₅₀ values revealed the most potent compounds to be phenylalkenyl and haloalkyl amides <b>11a</b> and <b>11e</b>, with IC₅₀ values of 10.5 and 7.2 μM, respectively.