Bis-basic-substituted polycyclic aromatic compounds. A new class of antiviral agents. 8. Bis-basic derivatives of carbazole, dibenzofuran, and dibenzothiophene.

A series of bisalkamine esters, bis-basic ethers, and bis-basic ketones of carbazole, N-ethylcarbazole, dibenzofuran, and dibenzothiophene was synthesized and evaluated for antiviral activity. The series also included two bis-basic alkanes of N-ethylcarbazole and one bis-basic carboxamide of dibenzofuran. Structure-activity relationships indicated that within the carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole series the bisalkamine esters gave the most active derivatives while the bis-basic ketone derivatives of dibenzofuran and dibenzothiophene afforded the more potent compounds within the respective series. The [6,5,6]heterocyclic nuclei were compared with the [6,5,6] aromatic nuclei (fluroene and fluoren-9-one) including tilorone with respect to antiviral activity against encephalomyocarditis (EMC) virus. Maximum activity was associated with the bis-basic ketone side chain and fluoren-9-one nucleus.