Sparfloxacin (CAS NO.: 110871-86-8), with its systematic name of 3-Quinolinecarboxylic acid, 5-amino-1-cyclopropyl-7-(3,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-6,8-difluoro-1,4-dihydro-4-oxo-, cis-, could be produced through many synthetic methods.

Following is one of the synthesis routes:

Firstly, Ethyl pentafluorobenzoylacetate (I) reacts with ethyl orthoformate in refluxing acetic anhydride and then with cyclopropylamine (II) in ether to produce the aminomethylene derivative (III), which is cyclized in the presence of NaH in THF affording ethyl 5,6,7,8-tetrafluoro-1-cyclopropyl-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate (IV). Next, the reaction of (IV) with benzylamine (V) in the presence of K₂CO₃ in refluxing acetonitrile affords the benzylamino derivative (VI), which is deprotected by hydrogenation with H₂ over Pd/C in ethanol giving ethyl 5-amino-1-cyclopropyl-6,7,8-trifluoro-4-oxo-1,4-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylate (VII). Finally, the hydrolysis of (VII) with hot H2SO4 yields the free acid (VIII), which is finally condensed with cis-2,6-dimethylpiperazine (IX) in DMF.