Design, synthesis, and antiviral activity of certain 2,5,6-trihalo-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazoles.

A new series of 2-substituted 5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole ribonucleosides has been synthesized and tested for activity against two human herpes viruses and for cytotoxicity. 2,5,6-Trichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (TCRB) was prepared by ribosylation of the heterocycle 2,5,6-trichlorobenzimidazole followed by a removal of the protecting groups. The 2-bromo derivative (BDCRB) was made in a similar fashion from 2-bromo-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole. In contrast, the 2-iodo derivative presented a more difficult problem since the appropriate heterocycle was unavailable. This prompted us to prepare the 2-amino derivative followed by nonaqueous diazotization and removal of the blocking groups. Biological evaluation revealed marked differences in the activities of these compounds and the closely related known compound 5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (DRB). DRB was weakly active against both human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), (IC50's = 42 and 30 microM, respectively) but was cytotoxic to uninfected human foreskin fibroblasts and KB cells in the same dose range. Similar results were obtained with the heterocycle 2,5,6-trichlorobenzimidazole. In marked contrast, the ribonucleoside of 2,5,6-trichlorobenzimidazole (TCRB) was active against HCMV (IC50 = 2.9 microM, plaque assay; IC90 = 1.4 microM, yield assay) but only weakly active against HSV-1 (IC50 = 102 microM, plaque assay). Little to no cytotoxicity was observed in HFF and KB cells at concentrations up to 100 microM. By changing the substituent at the 2-position from chlorine to bromine (BDCRB), a 4-fold increase in activity against HCMV was observed without any significant increase in cytotoxicity. In contrast, the 2-I and 2-NH2 derivatives were only weakly active against HCMV and HSV-1 with activity not well-separated from cytotoxicity. These data establish that for maximum activity against HCMV with separation from cytotoxicity, ribose is preferred at the 1-position and that Cl or Br is apparently preferred at the 2-position. The activity and selectivity of both TCRB and BDCRB were better than that observed with either ganciclovir or foscarnet.

Design, synthesis, and antiviral evaluations of 1-(substituted benzyl)-2-substituted-5,6-dichlorobenzimidazoles as nonnucleoside analogues of 2,5,6-trichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole.

We have recently reported that certain ribosylated polyhalogenated benzimidazoles are potent and selective inhibitors of HCMV replication at noncytotoxic concentrations. To extend the structure-activity relationship beyond these first-generation compounds, we alkylated 5,6-dichloro-2-substituted-benzimidazoles with either a series of substituted benzyl halides or (2-bromoethyl)benzene to obtain five series of nonnucleoside analogues. Evaluation of these compounds for activity against herpes viruses revealed that the new compounds were less active than the benzimidazole ribonucleosides against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and inactive against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). However, as part of our broader antiviral testing, we found that some of these compounds were active against HIV. Comparisons of the biological data revealed that a chloro or bromo group was required at the 2-position for the best separation of activity against HIV and cytotoxicity. Evaluation of the most active compounds against drug-resistant HIV suggested that they act by a mechanism other than inhibition of reverse transcriptase.

Benzimidazole ribonucleosides: design, synthesis, and antiviral activity of certain 2-(alkylthio)- and 2-(benzylthio)-5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazoles.

Several 2-alkylthio- and 2-benzylthio derivatives of 5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)benzimidazole (DRB) have been designed and synthesized from 5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-benzimidazole-2-thione. All compounds were evaluated for activity against human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and/or herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1). Three different cytotoxicity assays were used to determine if the compounds were toxic to uninfected cells. Most of the 2-alkylthio compounds were either inactive against HCMV and HSV-1 or were active only at concentrations at or near those which produced toxicity in uninfected cells. The best separation between activity against HCMV and cytotoxicity was observed with the 2-benzylthio analog 7. This prompted us to synthesize the substituted 2-benzylthio analogs 11-23 using a Topliss Tree approach. None of these compounds were more active than compound 7; most of the analogs were weakly active against both HCMV and HSV-1, but the activity was not separated from cytotoxicity. On the basis of both antiviral and cytotoxicity data, compound 7 was the best compound in the series. It was more active against HCMV than DRB (the 2-unsubstituted analog), acyclovir, and foscarnet, but it was less active than ganciclovir.

A new solid-phase support for oligonucleotide synthesis.

An alternative solid support for oligonucleotide synthesis was developed by coupling a polymer colloid to a modified polyethylene filter disc. The functions on the polymer colloid not used for attachment to the surface were derivatized with a Jeffamine diamine and loaded with appropriate deoxynucleoside succinates. The performance of this support system was evaluated and compared to existing resins.

Comparison of benzimidazole nucleosides and ganciclovir on the in vitro proliferation and colony formation of human bone marrow progenitor cells.

Recently we have shown that certain benzimidazole ribonucleosides are potent and selective inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication. Because antiviral drugs used to treat HCMV and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections can suppress marrow progenitors, we have evaluated the most promising of the new benzimidazoles for their effects on human bone marrow cells in vitro. In an initial study of the bone marrow toxicity of one of the most active compounds, 100 microM 2-bromo-5,6-dichloro-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-benzimidazole (BDCRB) inhibited cell proliferation by 20% over a 10 d period compared to 52% inhibition by 100 microM ganciclovir, the drug currently most used to treat HCMV infections. The effects of these drugs and selected other benzimidazole nucleosides were evaluated more extensively in haemopoietic progenitor cell colony formation assays. Colony formation was determined at 2 weeks and scored as either burst forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), or colony forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM). At the highest concentration tested, 100 microM BDCRB only moderately affected BFU-E or CFU-GM formation (31% and 47% inhibition, respectively). This concentration is 10-fold higher than that required to produce a 10000-fold reduction in virus titre. Evaluation of the 2-chloro analog of BDCRB (TCRB) which is less potent against HCMV, its 5'-deoxy analog (5'-dTCRB) which is more potent, and the 2-unsubstituted compound (DRB) gave the following order of haemopoietic toxicity: DRB > TCRB > or = 5'-dTCRB > BDCRB. In contrast to the benzimidazoles, ganciclovir decreased colony formation by 84% for BFU-E and 86% for CFU-GM at 100 microM. These results establish that certain benzimidazole nucleosides are less toxic to haemopoietic progenitors than the preferred drug now being used clinically for HCMV infections. The results also establish that different structure-activity relationships exist for antiviral activity and progenitor cell toxicity, thereby suggesting that different mechanisms are involved in the two types of drug action.