Synthesis and antiviral activities of some 4,4′- and 2,2′-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes

Abstract

We synthesized some 4,4′- and 2,2′-dihydroxytriphenylmethane derivatives 3a-e and 4a-c by condensation of phenol 1 and aromatic aldehyde 2 in moderate to good yields (30-83%). Most of them showed significant antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (anti-HSV-1 activity) in a plaque reduction assay. The most potent antiviral activity (EC50=0.79 μg/ml) was observed in the 4,4′-dihydroxytriphenylmethane derivative 3b. This compound 3b showed lower cytotoxicity (CC50=30.2 μg/ml), compared to that of the prototype 3a. © 2005 Pharmaceutical Society of Japan.