Diverted total synthesis of falcitidin acyl tetrapeptides as new antimalarial leads

We report not only the convergent total synthesis of falcitidin, a natural inhibitor of falcipain-2 from myxobacterium Chitinophaga, but also its diversification into a new antimalarial class of N-acyl tetrapeptides (Acyl-His-Ile-Val-Pro-NH2). Despite the lack of whole-cell activity of falcitidin itself, our study led to the identification of a trifluoromethyl (CF3) analogue displaying sub-micromolar IC50 activity against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7 in a standard blood-cell assay, but only when N-tritylated on its histidine (imidazole) residue.