A trypanocidal phenazine derived from beta-lapachone.

An intensive effort has been directed toward finding alternative drugs for treatment of Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and prophylaxis of blood in endemic areas. Our research comprises the synthesis and trypanocidal screening of derivatives from naphthoquinones. Herein a new phenazine, obtained from the reaction of beta-lapachone with aniline, has its structure established by physical data and X-ray analysis. It was 9 times more active against T. cruzi trypomastigotes than crystal violet.