Synthesis and antimalarial activity of (+)-deoxoartemisinin

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jm00167a036

(+)-Deoxoartemisinin (2), a new and more active antimalarial agent, was successfully prepared from artemisinin in one step using NaBH₄ and BF₃·Et₂O in THF. (-)-Deoxodeoxyartemisinin (5), a potential metabolite of deoxoartemisinin, was also prepared either from 2 or from artemisinic acid. 2 shows 8-fold increased antimalarial activity in vitro against chloroquine-resistant malaria as compared to artemisinin (1). Compound 2 possesses superior in vivo antimalarial activity to 1.