Synthesis of 2-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carbolines as antileishmanial agents

A series of 2-(pyrimidin-2-yl)-1-phenyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1 H -β-carboline derivatives has been synthesized and evaluated for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani . Compound 8 exhibited best antileishmanial activity with IC 50 value of 1.93 μg/ml against amastigotes, high selectivity index, and was more active than reference drugs sodium stilbogluconate and pentamidine.