Resolution of antimalarial agents via complex formation with .alpha.-(2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenylideneaminooxy)propionic acid

The resolution of several antimalarial agents via pi-complex formation with alpha-(2,4,5,7-tetranitro-9-fluorenylideneaminooxy) propionic acid (TAPA) is reported. Since this represents the first use of this agent for the resolution of amines, some details of the separations are presented. The method proved successful for resolving weakly alkaline amines that did not form stable salts with common resolving acids, highly insoluble amines that did not form soluble salts with usual resolving acids, and amines that did not form crystalline salts with commonly available resolving acids. The optical isomers of several antimalarial agents were evaluated against Plasmodium berghei in the mouse. None of the optically active forms showed any significant differences. The curative activity of (+)- and (-)-primaquine against Plasmodium cynomolgi in the rhesus monkey was essentially identical; however, significant differences in toxicity were noted.