title: Synthesis of 2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles as novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs).
abstract: alpha-Aminoketone hydrochlorides 2a-d were synthesized by Dakin-West reaction from L-phenylalanine and L-cyclohexylalanine followed by hydrolysis in acidic medium. Treatment of 2a-d with aqueous potassium thiocyanate afforded 1, 3-imidazole-2-thiones 3a-d which were alkylated with methyl iodide to give 2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles 4a-d with 4-benzyl/4-cyclohexylmethyl and 5-ethyl/5-isopropyl substituents. Coupling of 4a-d with ethoxymethyl chloride or benzyloxymethyl chloride furnished N-1 5a-d and N-3 6a-h alkylated products. The synthesised compounds were tested for their activity against HIV-1. The most active compounds have a cyclohexylmethyl group in the 5-position of 6 and showed an activity against HIV-1 comparable to the activity of Nevirapine.
authors.affiliation: Nucleic Acid Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark.
authors.forename: Yasser M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Loksha
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: El-Badawi
authors.forename: Ahmed A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Barbary
authors.forename: Erik B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors