Design and synthesis of N1-aryl-benzimidazoles 2-substituted as novel HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

A series of novel N₁-aryl-2-arylthioacetamido-benzimidazoles were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Some of them proved to be effective in inhibiting HIV-1 replication at submicromolar and nanomolar concentration acting as HIV-1 non-nucleoside RT inhibitors (NNRTIs), with low cytotoxicity. The preliminary structure–activity relationship (SAR) of these new derivatives was discussed and rationalized by docking studies.     

Optimization of 2,4-diarylanilines as non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors

The current optimization of 2,4-diarylaniline analogs (DAANs) on the central phenyl ring provided a series of new active DAAN derivatives 9a-9e, indicating an accessible modification approach that could improve anti-HIV potency against wild-type and resistant strains, aqueous solubility, and metabolic stability. A new compound 9e not only exhibited extremely high potency against wild-type virus (EC(50) 0.53 nM) and several resistant viral strains (EC(50) 0.36-3.9 nM), but also showed desirable aqueous solubility and metabolic stability, which were comparable or better than those of the anti-HIV-1 drug TMC278 (2). Thus, new compound 9e might be a potential drug candidate for further development of novel next-generation NNRTIs.     

Discovery of diarylpyridine derivatives as novel non-nucleoside HIV-1 reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Two series (4 and 5) of diarylpyridine derivatives were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anti-HIV-1 activity. The most promising compound, 5e, inhibited HIV-1 IIIB, NL4-3, and RTMDR1 with low nanomolar EC₅₀ values and selectivity indexes of >10,000. The results of this study indicate that diarylpyridine can be used as a novel scaffold to derive a new class of potent NNRTIs, active against both wild-type and drug-resistant HIV-1 strains.     

Tri-substituted triazoles as potent non-nucleoside inhibitors of the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase

A new series of 1,2,4-triazoles was synthesized and tested against several NNRTI-resistant HIV-1 isolates. Several of these compounds exhibited potent antiviral activities against efavirenz- and nevirapine-resistant viruses, containing K103N and/or Y181C mutations or Y188L mutation. Triazoles were first synthesized from commercially available substituted phenylthiosemicarbazides, then from isothiocyanates, and later by condensing the desired substituted anilines with thiosemicarbazones.     

Novel N1-substituted 1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-ones as potent non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Several N(1)-substituted 1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-ones were synthesized and evaluated as anti-HIV agents. Some of them proved to be highly effective in inhibiting HIV-1 replication at nanomolar concentration as potent non-nucleoside HIV-1 RT inhibitors (NNRTIs) with low cytotoxicity. SAR studies highlighted that the nature of the substituents at N(1) and on the benzene ring of benzimidazolone moiety significantly influenced the anti-HIV activity of this class of potent antiretroviral agents.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of CHX-DAPYs as HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

A series of new diarylpyrimidines (DAPYs) characterized by a halogen atom on the methylene linker between wing I and the central pyrimidine ring was synthesized and evaluated for their anti-HIV activity in MT-4 cell cultures. The two most promising compounds 7f and 7g showed excellent activity against wild-type HIV-1 with low nanomolar EC₅₀ values of 0.005 and 0.009 μM, respectively, which were comparable to or more potent than all the reference drugs zidovudine (AZT), lamivudine (3TC), nevirapine (NEV), efavirenz (EFV), delaviridine (DLV) and etravirine (ETV). In particular, 7g also displayed strong activity against the double mutant strain 103N + 181C with an EC₅₀ value of 8.2 μM. The preliminary structure–activity relationship (SAR) and molecular docking analysis of this new series of CHX-DAPYs were also investigated.     

Physicochemical property-driven optimization of diarylaniline compounds as potent HIV-1 non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Using physicochemical property-driven optimization, twelve new diarylaniline compounds (DAANs) (7a–h, 11a–b and 12a–b) were designed and synthesized. Among them, compounds 12a–b not only showed high potency (EC₅₀ 0.96–4.92 nM) against both wild-type and drug-resistant viral strains with the lowest fold change (FC 0.91 and 5.13), but also displayed acceptable drug-like properties based on aqueous solubility and lipophilicity (LE > 0.3, LLE > 5, LELP < 10). The correlations between potency and physicochemical properties of these DAAN analogues are also described. Compounds 12a–b merit further development as potent clinical trial candidates against AIDS.