Microwave-assisted Friedländer synthesis of quinolines derivatives as potential antiparasitic agents

A series of substituted quinolines was developed via the Friedländer reaction employing microwave irradiation (MW), in the presence of a catalytic amount of hydrochloric acid. The products were obtained in good yields in 1.5-12 min and were tested in vitro against the parasites causative of malaria, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness and Chagas' disease (TDR, WHO). Some of these compounds exhibited activity against Plasmodium falciparum and others resulted moderately active against Trypanosoma cruzi.