Design, synthesis and preliminary in vitro antiviral activity of 4,7-phenantrolines and 4,7-phenantrolin-1-ones against a single-stranded positive sense RNA genome viruses

Following the antiviral screening of a wide series of new angular and linear N-tricyclic systems both in silico and in vitro, the [4,7]phenantroline nucleus emerged as a new ring system endowed with activity against viruses containing single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes (ssRNA(+)). Here, we report our new pathway to the synthesis of this nucleus and of several related derivatives, as well as the results of both cell-based antiviral assays and molecular dynamics simulations. In the antiviral screening, several compounds (9 and 16-20) showed to be fairly active against BVDV, CVB-2, and Polio I (EC50, 6-25 mu M). According to molecular dynamics simulations, compounds (15) and (17) emerged for its potency against the HCV NS5B, with a calculated IC50 of 11-12 mu M.