Organocatalyzed highly atom economic one pot synthesis of tetrahydropyridines as antimalarials

A highly atom economic one pot synthesis of tetrahydropyridines was achieved by L-proline/TFA catalysed multicomponent reaction of beta-keto-esters, aromatic aldehydes and anilines. The synthesized compounds were screened against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro and one of them showed antimalarial activity with MIC as low as 0.09 mu g/mL. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.