Structure-activity relationships of anti-HIV-1 N-alkoxy- and N-allyloxy-benzimidazoles

One-pot benzimidazole syntheses have been used to prepare an extended series of novel analogues which were evaluated against HIV-1 infectivity, the most active having an EC50 of 0.5μM. There is a correlation between the length of saturated alkyl groups at O1 and C2 with antiviral selectivity. Replacing vinyl by the 2,2-dimethyl vinyl group increases antiviral selectivity.