Crystal structure of a benzimidazole hepatitis C virus inhibitor free and in complex with the viral RNA target.

The crystal structure of 8-((dimethylamino)methyl)-1-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)-1,7,8,9-tetrahydrochromeno[5,6-d]imidazol-2-amine (), an inhibitor of the hepatitis C virus internal ribosome entry site, is described and compared to the structure of the compound in complex with the viral RNA target. Compound crystallized by pentane vapor diffusion into dichloroethane solution. It crystallized in the monoclinic system, P2/c space group with unit cell parameters = 15.7950(5) Å, = 14.0128(4) Å, = 8.8147(3) Å, = 94.357(2)° and a cell volume of 1945.34(11) A. Packing interactions in the small molecule crystal lattice correspond to key interactions of the compound with the viral RNA target.