base-promoted Smiles rearrangement of phenylfurazans (series a), 3-phenylfuroxan (series b) and 4-phenylfuroxan (series c) bearing 2-hydroxyethylthio (1), 2-hydroxyethylsulfonyl (2), carbamoylmethylthio (3) and carbamoylmethylsulfonyl (4) functions at the hetero-ring are described. Under similar conditions compounds of the series a and b gave the expected Smiles rearrangment products with the only exception
sulfone moiety at position 3 or 4 were synthesized and tested for their antimalarial action on the chloroquine-sensitive D10 and the chloroquine-resistant W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum. The furazan analogues were considered for comparison. The most active compounds were the products in which the -SO2R groups are at the 3-position of the furoxan system. These latter substances displayed an antimalarial