Final answer:
Chloroquine is a synthetic compound that belongs to the class of quinolines. The chemical processes used to make chloroquine involve the synthesis of various compounds and the activation of the drug within the parasite's food vacuole. Its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it interferes with hemoglobin digestion in the parasite.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chloroquine is a synthetic compound that belongs to the class of quinolines. It was originally discovered in 1934 and later re-discovered by British and American chemists during World War II. The chemical processes used to make chloroquine involve the synthesis of various compounds and the activation of the drug within the parasite's food vacuole. The exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, but it is believed to interfere with hemoglobin digestion in the parasite.
Over the years, the chemistry community has explored various compounds to combat resistance, such as 1,2,4,5-tetraoxane-based hybrid molecules and hybrid compounds containing a masked electrophilic warhead. These have shown activity against both chloroquine-sensitive and chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Efforts continue to develop new analogs and combination treatments to overcome resistance and enhance the efficacy against malaria.