Mechanochemistry for the production of a hybrid salt used in the treatment of malaria

• Published in: Green chemistry : an international journal and green chemistry resource : GC Vol. 22; no. 1; pp. 54 - 61
• Main Authors: do Prado, Vânia M, de Queiroz, Thiago B, Sá, Paula M, Seiceira, Rafael C, Boechat, Nubia, Ferreira, Fabio F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 2020
• Subjects: Artesunate; Chemical reactions; Fourier transforms; Green chemistry; Infrared spectroscopy; Malaria; Mefloquine; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic chemistry; Piperidine; Salts; Vector-borne diseases
• ISSN: 1463-9262; 1463-9270
• DOI: 10.1039/c9gc02478f

Mechanochemistry refers to a chemical reaction induced by mechanical energy involving solids. This method provides several advantages over solution-phase synthesis, such as minimizing the need for large volumes of solvents in chemical reactions and greener and more efficient synthetic solutions. In this paper we obtain, via mechanochemistry, a hybrid salt, named MEFAS, derived from two antimalarial molecules - mefloquine and artesunate. We demonstrate, using a simple experimental procedure, how the catalytic amount of liquid present during mechanochemical reactions is decisive to obtain MEFAS. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data indicate that liquid-assisted mechanochemical reactions are promising in the formation of the hybrid salt, which is formed via a hydrogen interaction of the carboxylate group of the artesunate molecule with the piperidine group of mefloquine. Green-chemistry approach to obtain a hybrid salt - MEFAS - a promising candidate to treat malaria.