Acyclic analogs of nucleosides. Synthesis and in vitro antiviral activity of hydroxyalkyl-2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl) benzimidazoles.

In a search for novel antiviral compounds of the 'doubly modified' nucleoside type, we have prepared 1-(4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethy1-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-1-methyl-2-oxabutyl), 1-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-oxapentyl)-, 1-(5-hydroxy-2-oxapentyl), 1-(5-hydroxy-1-chloromethyl-2-oxapentyl)-, and 1-(6-hydroxy-1-chloromethyl-2-oxahexyl)-2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl)benzimidazole. They were obtained by condensing the trimethylsilyl derivative of 2-(trifluoromethylthiomethyl) benzimidazole with alkylating agents in the presence of an equimolar mixture of trifluoromethanesulfonic acid and trimethylchlorosilane. These nucleoside analogs showed moderate antiviral activity against some RNA viruses.

Acyclic analogs of nucleosides. Synthesis of hydroxyalkyl derivatives of 2-trifluoromethyl- and 2-trifluoromethylthiobenzimidazole.

1-(2,3-Dihydroxypropyl)-, 1-(4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(3-hydroxymethyl-4-hydroxy-2-oxabutyl)-, 1-(1,5-dihydroxy-3-oxa-2-pentyl)-, 1-(5-hydroxy-3-oxa-2-pentyl)-, and 1-(4,5-dihydroxy-2-oxapentyl)-2-trifluoromethyl- and -2-trifluoromethylthiobenzimidazoles were obtained by condensation of trimethylsilyl derivatives of 2-substituted benzimidazoles with alkylating agents in the presence of SnCl4, or by direct alkylation of the sodium salts of the heterocycles.