1H-1,2,3-triazole tethered mono- and bis-ferrocenylchalcone-β-lactam conjugates: Synthesis and antimalarial evaluation

•Synthesis of 1H-1,2,3-triazole tethered mono- and bis-ferrocenylchalcone-β-lactam conjugates.•Observed antimalarial activities against CQ-R W2 strain are equivalent to ferrocenic ciprofloxacin complexes.•The most potent conjugate exhibited an IC50 value of 2.36 μM against W2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum.

A series of ferrocenylchalcone-β-lactam conjugates were synthesized and evaluated against 3D7 (CQ-Sensitive) and W2 (CQ-Resistant) strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The SAR studies revealed the dependence of activities at N-1 substituent of β-lactam ring with compounds being more potent on resistant strain. The compound 9f and 9l with N-cyclohexyl substituent proved to be the most potent and non-cytotoxic among the series exhibiting IC50 values of 2.36 and 2.43 μM respectively, against W2 strain of P. falciparum.

Graphical abstractA series of 1H-1,2,3-triazole tethered β-lactam-ferrocenylchalcone conjugates were synthesized and evaluated for their antimalarial profiles.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide