Synthesis and antimycobacterial evaluation of fluoroquinolones derivatives coupled with isoprenyl moiety at the C-7 position

In this work, we report the synthesis and antitubercular activity of sixteen fluoroquinolones analogs of Cipro-, Gati-, Moxi-, and Gemifloxacin coupled with the terpenes, prenol, geraniol, nerol or farnesol, being all new compounds. The reactions were carried in a microwave reactor with short reaction times of 3–10 min, providing compounds in moderated yields. Fourteen of sixteen assessed fluoroquinolone derivatives were active against the M. tuberculosis , being the best result observed to a compound two times more active than the starting fluoroquinolone Gemifloxacin. These results confirm the potential of fluoroquinolone derivatives as lead compounds in antimycobacterial drug discovery. Graphical abstract