Pyrano[4,3-<i>b</i>]quinolines Library Generation via Iodocyclization and Palladium-Catalyzed Coupling Reactions

Synthesis of a 80-member library of novel pyrano[4,3-b]quinolines in solution-phase is reported. The key intermediate, 4-iodopyrano[4,3-b]quinolines were synthesized by the electrophilic iodocyclization of corresponding ortho-alkynyl aldehydes in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions. Subsequently a diverse set of libraries was generated by employing palladium-catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura, Heck, and Sonogashira coupling reactions on 4-iodopyrano[4,3-b]quinolines. In this way, a series of structurally different and biologically interesting molecules were obtained. Some of the selected compounds were screened against 3D7 strains of Plasmodium falciparum for antimalarial activity. Suzuki coupling products 6{3} and 6{21} and Heck coupling product 8{12} exhibit promising antimalarial activity.