Quinolone-Hydroxyquinoline Tautomerism in Quinolone 3-Esters. Preserving the 4-Oxoquinoline Structure To Retain Antimalarial Activity.

Recent publications report in vitro activity of quinolone 3-esters against the bc1 protein complex of Plasmodium falciparum and the parasite. Docking studies performed in silico at the yeast Qo site established a key role for the 4-oxo and N-H groups in drug-target interactions. Thus, the possibility of 4-oxoquinoline/4-hydroxyquinoline tautomerism may impact in pharmacologic profiles and should be investigated.