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Synthetic analogues of marine sponge guanidine alkaloids showed in vitro antiparasitic activity against Leishmania (L.) infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi. Guanidines 10 and 11 presented the highest selectivity index when tested against Leishmania. The antiparasitic activity of 10 and 11 was investigated in host cells and in parasites. Both compounds induced depolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential, upregulation of reactive oxygen species levels, and increased plasma membrane permeability in Leishmania parasites. Immunomodulatory assays suggested an NO-independent effect of guanidines 10 and 11 on macrophages. The same compounds also promoted anti-inflammatory activity in L. (L.) infantum-infected macrophages cocultived with splenocytes, reducing the production of cytokines MCP-1 and IFN-γ. Guanidines 10 and 11 affect the bioenergetic metabolism of Leishmania, with selective elimination of parasites via a host-independent mechanism.

A range of guanidinium catalysts was prepared in six or seven synthetic steps and applied to the phase transfer alkylation of a glycinate Schiff's base in 21–86% ee as well as the phase transfer epoxidation of some chalcones in 85–94% ee. Using a spectrophotometric method, pKa values in the range 13.2–13.9 in DMSO have been determined for some of the catalysts highlighting an increase in basicity relative to achiral tetramethylguanidine (pKa=13.0) and a mechanism involving the protonated guanidinium ion as a phase transfer catalyst is proposed. The use of two of the catalysts for the addition of nucleophiles in Michael addition reactions was investigated and both were found to be effective catalysts. A counterion effect was apparent in these reactions, but no enantioselectivity was observed.