BCl3/TBAI medium. The molecule 21e was synthesized linearly using two Buchwald-Hartwig couplings and the same oxidative demethylation reaction as for compounds 21a-d. All of these compounds were obtained in good to excellent yields. Plasmodione (3-(4-trifluoromethyl)benzylmenadione), the lead compound in previous malaria studies, showed an interesting inhibitory effect against Plasmodium falciparum, the parasite responsible for Chagas disease. In addition, plasmodione was shown to act as a prodrug.