Synthesis and Antiviral Evaluation of 1-[(2-Phenoxyethyl)oxymethyl] and 6-(3,5-Dimethoxybenzyl) Analogues of HIV Drugs Emivirine and TNK-651.

Novel emivirine analogues 6a, b were synthesized by reacting chloromethyl ethyl ether with 5-ethyl/isopropyl-6-(3,5-dimethoxybenzyl)uracils 5e, f. On the other hand, A series of new TNK-651 analogues 10a-f substituted at N-1 with phenoxyethoxymethyl moiety was prepared on treatment of the corresponding uracils 5a-f with bis(phenoxyethoxy)methane (9). The newly synthesized non-nucleosides were tested for antiviral activity against wild type HIV-1 IIIB as well as the resistant strains N119 (Y181C), A17 (K103N+Y181C), and the triple mutant EFV(R) (K103R+V179D+P225H) in MT-4 cells. Most of the tested compounds showed good activities. Among them 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-ethyl-1-[(2-phenoxyethyl)oxymethyl]uracil (10c) and 6-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)-5-isopropyl-1-[(2-phenoxyethyl)oxymethyl]uracil (10d) that showed inhibitory potency higher than emivirine against both wild type HIV-1 and the tested mutant strains, as well as higher activity than efavirenz against EFV(R).