Symmetric benzidine derivatives as anti-HCV agents: Insight into the nature, stereochemistry of the capping amino acid and the size of the terminal capping carbamates.

Novel symmetric molecules, bearing a benzidine prolinamide core, two terminal carbamate caps of variable sizes and nature, including natural and unnatural amino acids were developed. Several terminal N-carbamate substituents of the core structure, ranging from linear methyl, ethyl and butyl groups to branching isobutyl group; and an aromatic substituent were also synthesized. Series 1 has hydrophobic AA residues, namely S and R phenylglycine and a terminal carbamate capping group, whereas Series 2 bears sulphur containing amino acids, specifically S and R methionine and the natural R methylcysteine.

Expanding the chemical space of anti-HCV NS5A inhibitors by stereochemical exchange and peptidomimetic approaches.

Here we report a series of potent anti-HCV agents bearing a symmetrical benzidine l-prolinamide backbone with different capping groups including alkyl/aryl carbamates of natural and unnatural valine and leucine amino acids. All compounds were investigated for their inhibitory activity in an HCV replicon assay on genotype 1b. The novel compounds share some chemical and clinical attributes of commercially available NS5A inhibitors.