Synthesis and structure–activity relationship of 7-(substituted)-aminomethyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxylic acid derivatives

Gram-positive organisms have re-emerged as the major hospital pathogens, which make the unmet medical needs for antibacterial therapy even worse. In searching for potent agents against Gram-positive pathogens, novel 7-(substituted)-aminomethyl-quinolone-3-carboxylic acids were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for their antibacterial activities in vitro. Many 7-monoarylaminomethyl derivatives exhibited high potency against Gram-positive organisms compared to reference agents: vancomycin and pazufloxacin. Additionally, a few 7-monoalkylaminomethyl derivatives exhibited good activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms.