Mechanochemistry for the production of a hybrid salt used in the treatment of malaria

Abstract

Mechanochemistry refers to a chemical reaction induced by mechanical energy involving solids. This method provides several advantages over solution-phase synthesis, such as minimizing the need for large volumes of solvents in chemical reactions and greener and more efficient synthetic solutions. In this paper we obtain, via mechanochemistry, a hybrid salt, named MEFAS, derived from two antimalarial molecules – mefloquine and artesunate. We demonstrate, using a simple experimental procedure, how the catalytic amount of liquid present during mechanochemical reactions is decisive to obtain MEFAS. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data indicate that liquid-assisted mechanochemical reactions are promising in the formation of the hybrid salt, which is formed via a hydrogen interaction of the carboxylate group of the artesunate molecule with the piperidine group of mefloquine.