Structure–activity relationship of anti-malarial spongean peroxides having a 3-methoxy-1,2-dioxane structure Original Research Article

In order to study the structure–activity relationship of anti-malarial spongean peroxides, several analogues concerning with the 6-methoxyacetyl moiety and the 3-pentyl residue in methyl 2-(3-methoxy-3-pentyl-1,2-dioxan-6-yl)acetate were synthesized and evaluated for anti-malarial activity. The tert-butyl ester analogue 14 showed stability in mouse serum and a high selectivity index against the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, and the citronellyl analogue 31 exhibited the strongest in vitro anti-malarial activity among them, and the imidazole analogue 25 showed desirable in vivo anti-malarial activity against P. berghei infected mice.