Synthesis of 2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles as novel non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs)

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/ardp.200390017

α-Aminoketone hydrochlorides 2a-d were synthesized by Dakin-West reaction from L-phenylalanine and L-cyclohexylalanine followed by hydrolysis in acidic medium. Treatment of 2 a-d with aqueous potassium thiocyanate afforded 1,3-imidazole-2-thiones 3 a-d which were alkylated with methyl iodide to give 2-methylsulfanyl-1 H-imidazoles 4 a-d with 4-benzyl/4-cyclohexylmethyl and 5-ethyl/5-isopropyl substituents. Coupling of 4 a-d with ethoxymethyl chloride or benzyloxymethyl chloride furnished N-1 5 a-d and N-3 6 a-h alkylated products. The synthesised compounds were tested for their activity against HIV-1. The most active compounds have a cyclohexylmethyl group in the 5-position of 6 and showed an activity against HIV-1 comparable to the activity of Nevirapine.

Full text of DOI:10.1002/ardp.200390017

Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
2-Methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles 175
Yasser M. Lokshaa,
Synthesis of 2-Methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles as
Novel Non-nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitors (NNRTIs)
Mahmoud A. El-Badawib,
Ahmed A. El-Barbaryb,
Erik B. Pedersena,
Claus Nielsenc
α-Aminoketone hydrochlorides 2 a–d were synthesized by Dakin-West reaction
from L-phenylalanine and L-cyclohexylalanine followed by hydrolysis in acidic medi-
um.Treatment of 2 a–d with aqueous potassium thiocyanate afforded 1,3-imidazole-
2-thiones 3 a–d which were alkylated with methyl iodide to give 2-methylsulfanyl-
1H-imidazoles 4 a–d with 4-benzyl/4-cyclohexylmethyl and 5-ethyl/5-isopropyl sub-
stituents. Coupling of 4 a–d with ethoxymethyl chloride or benzyloxymethyl chloride
furnished N-1 5 a–d and N-3 6 a–h alkylated products.The synthesised compounds
were tested for their activity against HIV-1.The most active compounds have a cy-
clohexylmethyl group in the 5-position of 6 and showed an activity against HIV-1
comparable to the activity of Nevirapine.
a
Nucleic Acid Center1,
Department of Chemistry,
University of Southern
Denmark, Campusvej 55,
DK-5230 Odense M,
Denmark
b
Chemistry Department,
Faculty of Science,
Tanta University,
Tanta, Egypt
Keywords: α-Aminoketones; Imidazole-2-thiones; Non-nucleoside reverse tran-
scriptase inhibitors; Human immunodeficiency virus
c
Retrovirus Laboratory,
Department of Virology,
State Serum Institute,
Artillerivej 5,
Received: August 16, 2002 [FP720]
DK-2300 Copenhagen,
Denmark
multidrug therapies used to treat HIV-positive patients.A
third NNRTI, efavirenz, has been approved and can be
considered as a true second generation NNRTI because
of its ability to inhibit some of the mutant strains resistant
to its predecessors [11].
Introduction
In the late 1980s, compounds from the corporate library
were screened at Janssen Pharmaceutica, for their abili-
ty to inhibit HIV replication as a part of their anti-HIV pro-
gram. This was the first opportunity to discover unique
inhibitors of the key multifunctional HIV-1 enzyme, re-
verse transcriptase. Compounds of the tetrahydro-
imidazo[4,5,1-jk][1,4]-benzodiazepin-2(1H)-one (TIBO)
series were found to be noncompetitive inhibitors. Crys-
tallographic studies later showed that they inhibited the
enzyme’s action by binding to a hydrophobic pocket
close to, but distinct from, the active site [1–5]. Subse-
quently, many new structural classes of non-nucleoside
resverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) were found to
specifically inhibit the reverse transcriptase of HIV-1 by
binding at this site [6–8]. Although less likely to cause
deleterious side effects than nucleoside inhibitors,
NNRTIs were found to be more vulnerable to HIV’s high
mutation rate, leading to a rapid selection of strains that
are resistant to inhibition [9, 10].In spite of this shortcom-
ing, nevirapine and delavirdine were developed and ap-
proved for sale as important adjuncts to the accepted
A variety of potential drug candidates of the NNRTI type
has been developed over the recent years, e.g.imidazole
derivatives. 2-Carbamoyloxymethyl-5-(3,5-dichlorophen-
yl)thio-4-isopropyl-1-(pyridin-4-yl)methyl-1H-imidazole
(Capravirine, AG 1549) is in clinical testing [12], but its
use has recently been restricted due to vasculitis (an in-
flammation of the blood vessels), in animals that re-
ceived high doses of Capravirine [13].Therefore, further
research is needed in order to find new drug candidates
within this class of compounds.
Chemistry
1,3-Dihydroimidazole-2-thiones have been synthesized
by treatment of K-aminoketones with potassium thiocy-
anate.We have synthesized α-acylaminoketones by the
Dakin-West reaction [14, 15] by refluxing L-phenyl-
alanine and L-cyclohexylalanine propionic anhydride
and isobutyric anhydride in the presence of pyridine to
induce the acylation of the chiral CH group and subse-
quent decarboxylation in the same manner as described
by Cleland and Niemann for synthesis of 1 a [16] and
Loksha et al. for synthesis of 1 b [17]. α-Acylaminoke-
tones 1 a–d were hydrolysed by 6M hydrochloric acid to
1
A research center funded by The Danish National Research
Foundation for studies on nucleic acid.
Correspondence: Erik B. Pedersen, Nucleic Acid Center,
Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark,
Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark. Phone:
+45 65502555,fax:+45 66158780,e-mail:EBP@Chem.sdu.dk.
© 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
0365-6233/03/0175 $ 17.50+.50/0

176 Loksha et al.
Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
afford α-aminoketone hydrochlorides 2 a–d. Com-
pounds 2 a, b have been previously synthesised by
Sheppard et al. [18] and Loksha et al. [17]. 5-Alkyl-4-
cyclohexylmethyl-1,3-dihydroimidazole-2-thiones 3 c, d
were prepared directly without separation of compounds
1 c, d and 2 c, d by treatment of the residual oil with
aqueous potassium thiocyanate. Compounds 3 a, b
have been previously synthesized by Bullerwell and
Lawson [19] and Loksha et al. [17].
Scheme 2
R2, being an isopropyl group, induced coupling only at N3
to afford the compounds 6 e–h.
The assignment of structures of 5 a–d and 6 a–h was
confirmed by NOE. Irradiation of NCH2O in compound
5 a showed 1.8 % NOE in CH3CH2-C5, and no NOE in
CH2Ph was detected, while the same irradiation in com-
pounds 6 a and 6 e showed no NOE in CH3CH2-C5 and
(CH3)2CH, respectively, but showed 1 % and 1.36 %
NOE, respectively, in CH2Ph.
Scheme 1
Biological properties
2-Methylsulfanylimidazoles 4 a–d were obtained by for-
mation of the potassium salt of compounds 3 a–d using
methanolic potassium hydroxide solution and the salt
was S-alkylated with methyl iodide. Compounds 4 a–d
were found to be in an equilibrium between the two tauto-
meric forms i and ii (Scheme 2). For some compounds
the equilibrium was very fast as shown in 1H-NMR spec-
tra of compounds 4 a–c where signals of the two tautom-
ers collapsed, whereas for 4 d the equilibrium between
the two tautomers was slower, the peaks of the two tau-
tomers appearing as individual signals. For the same
reason, C-4 and C-5 in compounds 4 a, d were not ob-
served in the 13C-NMR spectra, whreas C-2 and the
methylene carbon atom in the benzyl group showed sig-
nificant broadening of the peaks.
The test for activity against HIV-1 was performed in MT4
cell cultures infected with wild type HIV-1 (strain IIIB).
Table. Antiviral activity of compounds 6 a–h against
HIV-1 in MT-4 cellsa.
Compd
IC50 CC50
(µM)b (µM)c
Compd IC50 CC50
(µM) (µM)
6 a
6 b
6 c
>100
>100
4.1
34
34
25
25
6 e
6 f
>100
3.3
29
29
39
31
6 g
6 h
0.25
0.26
6 d
0.40
Nevirapine
0.38 >100
a
Alkylation of compounds 4 a–d with ethoxymethyl chlo-
ride and benzyloxymethyl chloride using N-ethyldiiso-
propylamine (EDIA) as a bulky base afforded coupling at
N1 or N3 depending on R2.When R2 was an ethyl group,
the coupling occurred at both N1 (compounds 5 a–d)
and N3 (compounds 6 a–d), while steric hinderance of
All data represent mean values for three separate ex-
periments. Inhibitory concentration of compound
b
achieving 50 % inhibition of HIV-1 multiplication in MT-
c
4-infected cells. Cytotoxic concentration of com-
pound required to reduce the viability of normal unin-
fected MT-4 cells by 50 %.

Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
2-Methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles 177
(M+).– Anal.Calcd for C12H20N2S × 0.25 H2O (228.87):C, 62.98;
H, 9.03; N, 12.24. Found: C, 62.95; H, 8.77; N, 12.27.
The compounds 5 a–d and 6 a, b, e were inactive at
100 µM whereas compounds 6 c, d,f–h showed activity
against wild type HIV-1 as shown in the table. Com-
pounds with a 4-isopropyl group (6 f–h) were found more
active than the corresponding compounds 6 b–d with a
4-ethyl group. Also, a cyclohexylmethyl group in the 5-
position (6 c, d, g, h) improved the activity against HIV
when compared with compounds with a benzyl group
(6 a, b, e, f). In fact, the activity of the most active
cyclohexylmethyl derivatives 6 d, g, h were comparable
to the activity of Nevirapine, which is about 10-fold less
active against HIV-1 than Capravirine [12].
4-Cyclohexylmethyl-5-isopropyl-1,3-dihydroimidazole-2-
thione (3d)
Yield 2.4 g (20 %) as a white solid; mp 275–277 °C. 1H-NMR
([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm = 0.85–0.96 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.16 (d, 6 H, J =
7.0 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 1.23–1.29 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.46–1.54 (m, 1 H,
Hcy), 1,59–1.71 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.23 (d, 2 H, J = 7.3 Hz, CH2Cy),
2.81 (hept., 1 H, J = 7.0 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 11.53 (s, 1 H, NH),
11.69 (s, 1 H, NH). – 13C-NMR ([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm) = 21.87
((CH3)2CH), 23.38 ((CH3)2CH), 25.52, 25.84, 32.16, 37.02
(Ccy), 30.46 (CH2Cy), 120.75 (C-4), 130.18 (C-5), 158.60
(C=S). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 239.1569 (MH+, C13H23N2S);
requires 239.1581.
General procedure for the synthesis of 2-methylsulfanyl-1H-im-
idazoles 4 a–d
Acknowledgement
One of the authors (Y. M. Loksha) is greatly indebted to
the Danish International Development Agency
(DANIDA) for granting a fellowship.
To a solution of potassium hydroxide (0.28 g, 5 mmol) in MeOH
(15 mL), 3 a–d (5 mmol) was added and the mixture was
stirred for 0.5 h.Methyl iodide (0.31 mL, 5 mmol) was added to
the reaction mixture, and stirred at room temperature for an ad-
ditional 1 h.The solvent was removed under reduced pressure,
and water (25 mL) was added to the residual material.The sol-
id product was filtered off and recrystallized from ethanol/water
to give compounds 4 a–d.
Experimental section
NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Gemini 2000 NMR
spectrophotometer at 300 MHz for 1H and 75 MHz for 13C with
TMS as an internal standard. EI mass spectra were recorded
on a Finnigan MAT SSQ 710. MALDI spectra were recorded on
a 4.7 Tesla Ultima Fourier transform Mass spectrometer
(IonSpec, Irvine, CA). Melting points were determined in a
Büchi melting point apparatus. The silica gel (0.040–
0.063 mm) used for column chromatography was purchased
from Merck. Microanalyses were carried out at Atlantic
Microlab, Inc., Norcross, Georgia, USA.
4-Benzyl-5-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazole (4 a)
Yield 0.94 g (81 %) as a white solid; mp 148–150 °C. 1H-NMR
([D6]DMSO):δ (ppm) = 1.06 (t, 3 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 2.42–
2.49 (m, 5 H, CH3S and CH3CH2), 3.76 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 7.14–
7.28 (m, 5 H, Ph). – 13C NMR ([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm) = 14.53
(CH3CH2), 15.75 (CH3S), 18.11 (broad, CH3CH2), 31.37
(broad, CH2Ph), 125.62, 128.09, 128.12, 137.33 (Carom),
140.74 (broad, C-2). – EI MS: m/z = 232 (M+). – Anal. Calcd for
C13H16N2S × 0.25 H2O (236.85): C, 65.92; H, 7.02; N, 11.83.
Found: C, 65.96; H, 6.89; N, 11.83%.
General procedure for the synthesis of 5-alkyl 4-cyclohexyl-
methyl-1,3-dihydro-imidazole-2-thiones 3 c, d
4-Benzyl-5-isopropyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazole (4 b)
A mixture of L-cyclohexylalanine (8.55 g, 50 mmol), anhy-
drous pyridine (41 mL, 500 mmol) and the appropriate acid an-
hydride (propionic and isobutyric anhydride) (500 mmol) was
heated in an oil bath at 150 °C for 12 h until carbon dioxide was
no longer evolved. After that, the excess of pyridine, acid anhy-
dride, and the acid formed were removed under reduced pres-
sure, the residue obtained was treated with an aqueous satu-
rated solution of sodium bicarbonate (20 mL) to remove the
acidic components and then extracted with ether (3 × 50 mL).
The combined ethereal extracts were dried over sodium sulfate
(5 g), filtered and evaporated till dryness under vacuum. The
residue was treated with 6M hydrochloric acid (220 mL) and
ethanol (120 mL).The mixture was refluxed for 7 h, cooled and
the solvents were removed under reduced pressure, potassi-
um thiocyanate (4.9 g, 50 mmol) in water (50 mL) was added
to the residual material and the mixture was refluxed for 5 h.Af-
ter cooling to room temperature, the solid product formed was
filtered off, washed with ether (50 mL), and dried to afford com-
pounds 3 c, d.
Yield 1.15 g (93 %) as a white solid; mp 118–120 °C. 1H-NMR
([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm) = 1.11 (d, 6 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH),
2.46 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.93 (hept., 1 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH),
3.77 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 7.15–7.28 (m, 5 H, Ph). – 13C-NMR
([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm) = 15.75 (CH3S), 22.70 ((CH3)2CH), 24.58
(broad, (CH3)2CH), 31.32 (broad, CH2Ph), 125.61, 128.08,
137.39 (Carom), 140.75 (broad, C-2). – EI MS: m/z = 246 (M+).
4-Cyclohexylmethyl-5-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazole (4c)
1
Yield: 1 g (88 %) as a white solid; mp 140–142 °C. H-NMR
([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm = 0.81–0.92 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.05–1.21 (m,
6 H, CH3CH2 and Hcy), 1.43–1.64 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.27 (d, 2 H, J =
6.9 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.39 (q, 2 H, CH3CH2), 2.47 (s, 3 H, CH3S). –
13C-NMR ([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm) = 14.52 (CH3CH2), 15.88
(CH3S), 18.17 (CH3CH2), 25.96, 25.64, 32.45, 37.86 (Ccy),
32.34 (broad, CH2Cy), 129.77 (C-4), 134.28 (broad, C-2),
137.05 (C-5). – EI MS: m/z = 238 (M+). – Anal. Calcd for
C13H22N2S × 0.2 H2O (242.00): C, 64.52; H, 9.33; N, 11.58.
Found: C, 64.60; H, 9.17; N, 11.60 %.
4-Cyclohexylmethyl-5-ethyl-1,3-dihydroimidazole-2-thione (3c)
Yield 6.9 g (62 %) as a white solid; mp 268–270 °C. 1H-NMR
([D6]DMSO): δ (ppm = 0.84–0.88 (m. 2 H, Hcy), 1.07–1.21 (m,
5 H, CH3CH2 and Hcy), 1.47–1.60 (m, 7 H, Hcy), 2.10–2.31 (m.
4 H, CH3CH2 and CH2Cy), 11.50 (bs, 1 H, NH), 11.62 (bs, 1 H,
NH).– 13C-NMR ([D6]DMSO):δ (ppm) = 13.97 (CH3CH2), 16.45
(CH3CH2), 25.86, 25.54, 32.18, 37.04 (Ccy), 30.44 (CH2Cy),
121.85 (C-4), 126.05 (C-5), 158.46 (C=S). – EI MS: m/z = 224
4-Cyclohexylmethyl-5-isopropyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imid-
azole (4d)
Yield 0.71 g (56 %) as a white solid; mp 172–174 °C. 1H-NMR
([D6]DMSO) (two tautomers):δ (ppm) = 0.82–0.93 (m, 4 H, Hcy),
1.09–1.21 (m, 18 H, 2 × (CH3)2CH and Hcy), 1.45–1.63 (m, 12 H,
Hcy), 2.21 (d, 2 H, J = 6.6 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.31 (d, 2 H, J = 6.9 Hz,

178 Loksha et al.
Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
1-Benzyloxymethyl-4-cyclohexylmethyl-5-ethyl-2-methyl-
sulfanyl-1H-imidazole (5d)
CH2Cy), 2.44 (s, 6 H, 2 × CH3S), 2.74 (hept., 1 H, J = 6.8 Hz,
(CH3)2CH), 2.86 (hept., 1 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 11.51 (s,
1 H, NH), 11.57 (s, 1 H, NH). – 13C-NMR ([D6]DMSO) (two tau-
tomers): δ (ppm) = 15.83 (CH3S), 22.71, 23.19 ((CH3)2CH),
24.01, 25.37 ((CH3)2CH), 25.62, 25.73, 25.93, 26.09, 32.44,
32.65, 37.92 (Ccy), 31.27, 34.24 (CH2Cy), 124.34, 133.55
(C-4), 134.22, 143.20 (C-5), 136.54, 136.85 (C-2).– EI MS:m/z
= 252 (M+). – Anal. Calcd for C14H24N2S × 0.6H2O (263.23): C,
63.88; H, 9.64; N, 10.64. Found: C, 63.89; H, 9.24; N, 10.64 %.
1
Yield 150 mg (15 %) as an oil. H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) =
0.87–0.98 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.07–1.25 (m, 7 H, CH3CH2 and Hcy),
1.65–1.72 (m, 5 H, Hcy), 2.35 (d, 2 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.53
(s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.59 (q, 2 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 4.50 (s, 2 H,
CH2Ph), 5.35 (s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.25–7.37 (m, 5 H, Ph). – 13C-
NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm = 14.78 (CH3CH2), 16.78 (CH3CH2),
17.68 (CH3S), 26.61, 26.28, 33.31, 38.06 (Ccy), 34.94 (CH2Cy),
70.16 (OCH2Ph), 72.83 (NCH2O), 127.73, 127.89, 128.42,
136.99 (Carom), 131.20 (C-4), 138.04 (C-5), 140.58 (C-2).-
HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 359.2149 (MH+, C21H31N2OS); re-
quires 359.2147.
General procedure for preparation of compounds 5 a–d and
6 a–h
Each of the compounds 4 a–d (2 mmol) was dissolved in meth-
ylene chloride (20 mL) under nitrogen. N-Ethyldiisopro-
pylamine (EDIA) (0.36 mL, 2 mmol) was added to the above
solution followed by addition of ethoxymethyl chloride or ben-
zyloxymethyl chloride (2 mmol). The reaction mixture was
stirred for 3 h at room temperature and quenched with water
(20 mL). Methylene chloride (30 mL) was added and the two
layers were separated. The organic layer was dried over sodi-
um sulfate (5 g), filtered and the solvent was removed under
reduced pressure.The residual material was chromatographed
on a column of silica gel with CH2Cl2:EtOAc (v:v = 6:1) to afford
compounds 5 a–d and 6 a–h.
5-Benzyl-1-ethoxymethyl-4-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-
imidazole (6a)
Yield 120 mg (21 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 1.08
(t, 3 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH3CH2O), 1.23 (t, 3 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2),
2.54–2.61 (m, 5 H, CH3S and CH3CH2), 3.36 (q, 2 H, J = 7.0 Hz,
CH3CH2O), 3.99 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 5.05 (s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.08–
7.28 (m., 5 H, Ph). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 14.64
(CH3CH2), 14.69 (CH3CH2O), 17.09 (CH3S), 20.43 (CH3CH2),
29.19 (CH2Ph), 63.58 (CH3CH2O), 73.13 (NCH2O), 126.14
(C-4), 126.34, 127.92, 128.49, 138.68 (Carom), 141.64 (C-2),
142.27 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 291.1515 (MH+,
C16H23N2OS); requires 291.1531.
4-Benzyl-1-ethoxymethyl-5-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imid-
azole (5a)
5-Benzyl-1-benzyloxymethyl-4-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-
imidazole (6b)
Yield 58 mg (10 %) as an oil.1H-NMR (CDCl3):δ (ppm) = 1.04 (t,
3 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 1.18 (t, 3 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH3CH2O),
2.54 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.57 (q, 2 H, J =7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 3.49 (q,
2 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH3CH2O), 3.89 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 5.26 (s, 2 H,
NCH2O), 7.13–7.25 (m, 5 H, Ph).– 13C-NMR (CDCl3):δ (ppm) =
14.43 (CH3CH2), 14.85 (CH3CH2), 16.91 (CH3CH2), 17.37
(CH3S), 33.57 (CH2Ph), 63.71 (CH3CH2O), 73.04 (NCH2O),
125.73, 128.16, 128.45, 137.38 (Carom), 131.46 (C-4), 137.38
(C-5), 140.66 (C-2). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 291.1510 (MH+,
C16H23N2OS); requires 291.1531.
Yield 210 mg (29 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 1.23
(t, 3 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 2.54–2.61 (m, 5 H, CH3S and
CH3CH2), 3.98 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 4.39 (s, 2 H, OCH2Ph), 5.11 (s,
2 H, NCH2O), 7.03–7.32 (m, 10 H, 2 Ph). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): L
(ppm) = 14.66 (CH3CH2), 17.06 (CH3S), 20.47 (CH3CH2), 29.19
(CH2Ph), 70.06 (OCH2Ph), 72.85 (NCH2O), 126.18 (C-4),
126.39, 127.64, 127.95, 128.38, 128.54, 136.94, 138.59
(Carom), 141.86 (C-2), 142.36 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z =
353.1666 (MH+, C21H25N2OS); requires 353.1687.
5-Cyclohexylmethyl-1-ethoxymethyl-4-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-
1H-imidazole (6c)
4-Benzyl-1-benzyloxymethyl-5-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-
imidazole (5b)
Yield 80 mg (14 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 0.86–
0.98 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.11–1.23 (m, 9 H, CH3CH2, CH3CH2O and
Hcy), 1.44–1.68 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.43–2.52 (m, 4 H, CH2Cy and
CH3CH2), 2.54 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 3.47 (q, 2 H, J = 7.0 Hz,
CH3CH2O), 5.25 (s, 2 H, NCH2O). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm)
= 14.29 (CH3CH2), 14.83 (CH3CH2O), 17.35 (CH3S), 20.52
(CH3CH2), 26.34, 26.24, 33.21, 38.43 (Ccy), 31.18 (CH2Cy),
63.54 (CH3CH2O), 72.99 (NCH2O), 127.17 (C-4), 140.75 (C-2),
141.52 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 297.2002 (MH+,
C16H29N2OS); requires 297.2006.
Yield 115 mg (16 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 1.02
(t, 3 H, J = 7.6 Hz, CH3CH2), 2.50–2.60 (m, 5 H, CH3S and
CH3CH2), 3.89 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 4.50 (s, 2 H, OCH2Ph), 5.33 (s,
2 H, NCH2O), 7.15–7.33 (m, 10 H, 2 Ph). – 13C NMR (CDCl3): δ
(ppm = 14.43 (CH3CH2), 16.88 (CH3CH2), 17.34 (CH3S), 33.56
(CH2Ph), 70.24 (OCH2Ph), 72.77 (NCH2O), 125.73, 127.91,
128.16, 128.42, 128.43, 136.85, 137.50 (Carom), 131.47 (C-4),
140.59 (C-5), 141.08 (C-2). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z =
353.1670 (MH+, C21H25N2OS); requires 353.1687.
1-Benzyloxymethyl-5-cyclohexylmethyl-4-ethyl-2-methyl-
sulfanyl-1H-imidazole (6d)
4-Cyclohexylmethyl-1-ethoxymethyl-5-ethyl-2-methylsulfanyl-
1H-imidazole (5c)
1
Yield 140 mg (18 %) as an oil. H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) =
Yield 53 mg (9 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 0.86–
0.97 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.07–1.28 (m, 9 H, CH3CH2 and CH3CH2O
and Hcy), 1.67–1.71 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.34 (d, 2 H, J = 6.6 Hz,
CH2Cy), 2.52 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.58 (q, 2 H, CH3CH2), 3.48 (q,
2 H, J = 7.2 Hz, CH3CH2O), 5.28 (s, 2 H, NCH2O). – 13C-NMR
(CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 14.73 (CH3CH2), 14.84 (CH3CH2O), 16.77
(CH3CH2), 17.67 (CH3S), 26.59, 26.25, 33.28, 38.03 (Ccy),
34.91 (CH2Cy), 63.54 (CH3CH2O), 73.01 (NCH2O), 131.16 (C-
4), 137.85 (C-5), 140.37 (C-2). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z =
297.1987 (MH+, C16H29N2OS); requires 297.1995.
0.84–0.94 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.09–1.16 (m, 3 H, Hcy), 1.21 (t, 3 H, J =
7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 1.39–1.65 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.42 (d, 2 H, J =
7.3 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.49 (q, 2 H, J = 7.5 Hz, CH3CH2), 2.55 (s, 3 H,
CH3S), 4.50 (s, 2 H, OCH2Ph), 5.31 (s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.37–7.26
(m, 5 H, Ph). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 14.31 (CH3CH2),
17.36 (CH3S), 20.55 (CH3CH2), 26.32, 26.16, 33.21, 38.47
(Ccy), 31.18 (CH2Cy), 70.16 (OCH2Ph), 72.76 (NCH2O), 127.22
(C-4), 127.74, 127.89, 128.40, 136.98 (Carom), 140.93 (C-2),
141.65 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 359.2157 (MH+,
C21H31N2OS); requires 359.2157.

Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
2-Methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles 179
ing the test dilutions of compound for six days in parallel with vi-
rus-infected and uninfected control cultures without compound
added. Expression of HIV in the cultures was indirectly quanti-
fied using the MTT assay [22].Compounds mediating less than
30 % reduction of HIV expression were considered without bio-
logical activity. Compounds were tested in parallel for cytotoxic
effect in uninfected MT4 cultures containing the test dilutions of
compound as described above. A 30 % inhibition of cell growth
relative to control cultures was considered significant.The 50 %
inhibitory concentration (IC50) and the 50 % cytotoxic concen-
tration (CC50) were determined by interpolation from the plots
of percent inhibition versus concentration of compound.
5-Benzyl-1-ethoxymethyl-4-isopropyl-2-methylsulfanyl-1H-
imidazole (6e)
Yield 250 mg (41 %) as an oil. 1H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 1.08
(t, 3 H, J = 7.0 CH3CH2), 1.26 (d, 6 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH),
2.52 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.93 (hept., 1 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH),
3.37 (q, 2 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH3CH2O), 4.02 (s, 2 H, CH2Ph), 5.07
(s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.07–7.28 (m, 5 H, Ph). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ
(ppm) = 14.71 (CH3CH2), 17.77 (CH3S), 22.84 ((CH3)2CH),
26.37 ((CH3)2CH), 29.10 (CH2Ph), 63.56 (CH3CH2O), 73.14
(NCH2O), 125.21 (C-4), 126.30, 127.88, 128.49, 138.81
(Carom), 141.23 (C-2), 146.28 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z =
305.1673 (MH+, C17H25N2OS); requires 305.1687.
5-Benzyl-1-benzyloxymethyl-4-isopropyl-2-methylsulfanyl-
1H-imidazole (6f)
Yield 400 mg (55 %) as an oil. 1H NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 1.27
(d, 2 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 2.53 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.93 (hept.,
1 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 3.99 (s, 1 H, CH2Ph), 4.40 (s, 2 H,
OCH2Ph), 5.12 (s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.02–7.36 (m, 10 H, 2 Ph). –
13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 17.72 (CH3S), 22.85 ((CH3)2CH)
26.38 ((CH3)2CH), 29.08 (CH2Ph), 70.12 (OCH2Ph), 72.00
(NCH2O), 125.25 (C-4), 126.34, 127.64, 127.85, 127.91,
128.39, 128.53, 136.99, 138.69 (Carom), 141.45 (C-2), 146.35
(C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 367.1829 (MH+, C22H27N2OS);
requires 367.1844.
References
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1
Yield 500 mg (80 %) as an oil. H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) =
0.88–1.03 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.15–1.30 (m, 12 H, CH3CH2,
(CH3)2CH and Hcy), 1.43–1.69 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.45 (d, 2 H, J =
7.4 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.51 (s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.83 (hept., 1 H, J =
6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 3.48 (q, 2 H, J = 7.0 Hz, CH3CH2O), 5.27 (s,
2 H, NCH2O). – 13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm = 14.88 (CH3CH2),
18.09 (CH3S), 22.79 ((CH3)2CH), 26.17 ((CH3)2CH), 26.37,
26.31, 33.26, 38.43 (Ccy), 31.13 (CH2Cy), 63.54 (CH3CH2O),
73.05 (NCH2O), 126.30 (C-4), 140.44 (C-2), 145.63 (C-5). –
HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 311.2155 (MH+, C17H31N2OS); re-
quires 311.2157.
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1-Benzyloxymethyl-5-cyclohexylmethyl-4-isopropyl-2-methyl-
sulfanyl-1H-imidazole (6h)
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1
Yield 600 mg (82 %) as an oil. H-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) =
0.83–0.95 (m, 2 H, Hcy), 1.09–1.28 (m, 9 H, (CH3)2CH and Hcy),
1.38–1.65 (m, 6 H, Hcy), 2.43 (d, 2 H, J = 7.4 Hz, CH2Cy), 2.51
(s, 3 H, CH3S), 2.82 (hept., 1 H, J = 6.9 Hz, (CH3)2CH), 4.51 (s,
2 H, OCH2Ph), 5.33 (s, 2 H, NCH2O), 7.25–7.36 (m, 5 H, Ph). –
13C-NMR (CDCl3): δ (ppm) = 18.06 (CH3S), 22.77 ((CH3)2CH),
26.19 ((CH3)2CH), 26.33, 26.19, 33.21, 38.39 (Ccy), 31.08
(CH2Cy), 70.18 (OCH2Ph), 72.81 (NCH2O), 126.31 (C-2),
145.71 (C-5). – HiResMALDI MS: m/z = 373.2314 (MH+,
C22H33N2OS); requires 373.2308.
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180 Loksha et al.
Arch. Pharm. Pharm. Med. Chem. 2003, 336, 175–180
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