Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal activity of thiophene ring-containing quinones

A series of quinones (3a-i, 4-9, 11) and aromatic compounds (2a, 2d, 2g) containing the thiophene ring were tested in vitro against the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi and the promastigote forms of Leishmania. The quinones 3a-i, 4, 5a, b, 6 and 9 having the thiophene ring fused to a quinone nucleus were the most active members of the series. The electron affinities of the benzo[b]thiophene-4,7-quinones 3, evaluated by their LUMO energies and halfwave potentials, are reported.