Ciprofloxacin comparative potency

The 5-position of quinolones can be substituted by small groups such as halogens, hydroxyl, or amino (54—56). The amino group at this position can be advantageous, particularly when appHed to 6,8-difluoro-7-piperazinyl or 6,8-difluoro-7-pyrrohdinyl quinolones. In contrast to 6,8-difluoro quinolones, when this replacement is appHed to ofloxacin, the resulting derivative has reduced antibacterial activity (57). Replacement of the 5-amino group with methylamine or dimethylamine causes activity to drop substantially. Sparfloxacin [110871-86-8] (21), a representative of 5-amino-6,8-difluoro quinolones, affords modest improvements in gram-positive activity as well as increased in vivo potency when compared with both ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin (54). 

Over 10000 quinolone antibacterial agents have now been synthesized. Nalidixic acid is regarded as the progenitor of the new quinolones. It has been used for several years as a clinically important drug in the treatment of urinary tract infections. Since its clinical introduction, other 4-quinolone antibacterials have been synthesized, some of which show considerably greater antibacterial potency. Furthermore, this means that many types of bacteria not susceptible to nahdixic acid therapy m be sensihve to the newer derivahves. The most important development was the introduction of a fluorine substituent at C-6, which led to a considerable increase in potency and spectrum of activity compared with nalidixic add. These second-generation quinolones are known as fluoroquinolones, examples of which are ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (Fig. 5.19). 

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