Synthesis of 2-aryl-6-methyl-5-nitroquinoline derivatives as potential prodrug systems for reductive activation

A range of novel 2-aryl-5-nitroquinolines have been synthesised as potential prodrug systems for bioreductive activation. Thus 5-nitroquinoline underwent vicarious nucleophilic substitution at C-6 with bromoform anion to give, after hydrolysis and reduction, the quinoline-6-methanol. Introduction of chlorine at C-2 was followed by palladium-catalysed Suzuki coupling to install the 2-aryl substituent. A fluorescent model ‘drug’, 7-hydroxy-4-methylcoumarin was coupled to the 6-hydroxymethyl group, and its fragmentation upon reduction of the nitro group was investigated.