7-Azetidinylquinolones as antibacterial agents. Synthesis and structure-activity relationships

A series of novel antibacterial quinolones and naphthyridones has been prepared which contain 7-azetidinyl substituents in place of the usual piperazine or aminopyrrolidine groups. These azetidinyl derivatives were evaluated for in vitro activity by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations against a variety of bacteria. In vivo efficacy in the mouse infection model and blood levels in the mouse were determined for several compounds. The influence on the structure-activity relationships of varying substituents in the azetidine ring and at position 8 (CH, CF, CCl, N) and N-1 (ethyl, fluoroethyl, cyclopropyl, tert-butyl, 4-fluorophenyl, and 2,4-difluorophenyl) was also studied. Compounds with outstandingly broad-spectrum activity, particularly against Gram-positive organisms, improved in vivo efficacy, and high blood levels were identified in this work. 7-Azetidinyl-8-chloroquinolones were considered as warranting further development.