Synthesis of syn and anti isomers of 6-[[(hydroxyimino)phenyl]methyl]-1-[(1-methylethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-2-amine. Inhibitors of rhinovirus multiplication.

The synthesis and antirhinovirus activity of syn and anti isomers of 6-[[(hydroxyimino)phenyl]methyl]-1-[(1-methylethyl)sulfonyl]-1H-benzimidazol-2-amine (4 and 5) are reported. The structural assignments of 4 and 5 are based upon 13C NMR spectra of both isomers and also X-ray analysis of 5. The anti-isomer 5 was more potent than the syn-isomer 4 when compared as an inhibitor of rhinovirus multiplication in vitro. Both isomers inhibited multiplication of 15 different serotypes of rhinovirus.