Streptonigrin and related compounds III. Synthesis and microbiological activity of destrioxyphenylstreptonigrin and analogues

Synthesis of three tricyclic analogues of streptonigrin, based on the 2-(2′-pyridyl)quinoline-5,8-dione system and with the characteristic substitution pattern of rings A and C of streptonigrin is described. The C-ring precursor, in the form of a substituted 2-acetylpyridine was condensed with either 3-hydroxy-5-methoxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde or 3-hydroxy-4-methoxy-2-nitrobenzaldehyde, followed by reductive cyclization and oxidation to the corresponding quinones 12 and 29 . The 7-amino substitution was introduced in 12 via bromination and azidation. The 6-amino substitution was introduced through direct reaction of 29 with sodium azide. Destrioxyphenylstreptonigrin 2 was twice as active and the 6-amino-7-inethoxy analogue 4 was as active as streptonigrin in a microbiological assay. A 4′-bromo analogue of 2 was 60% as active as streptonigrin.