2-Chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropan-1-one hydrochloride, a novel, nonmutagenic antibacterial with specific activity against anaerobic bacteria.

1-(2,4-Dichlorophenyl)-2-phenylpropen-1-one (2) is identified as a potent antibacterial agent. A compound, 2-chloro-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-3-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-2-phenylpropan++ +-1-one (5) has been designed with the intention of its acting as a pro-drug, liberating the lethal species 2 specifically within the target anaerobic bacterial cell following bioreduction by bacterial ferredoxin or related electron transfer proteins. The synthesis and biological activity of 5 is described and compared with the activities of the analogous alpha-bromo ketone 6 and alpha-fluoro ketone 7. Synthesis of 6, 7, and the corresponding alpha-hydroxy ketone 11 is also described.

Structural requirements of olefinic 5-substituted deoxyuridines for antiherpes activity.

A number of structurally related 5-substituted pyrimidine 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were synthesized and tested for antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in cell culture. A minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for each compound, and from a comparison of these values a number of conclusions were drawn with regard to those molecular features that enhance or reduce antiviral activity. Optimum inhibition of HSV-1 in cell culture occurred when the 5-substituent was unsaturated and conjugated with the pyrimidine ring, was not longer than four carbon atoms in length, had E stereochemistry, and included a hydrophobic, electronegative function but did not contain a branching point. Such features are contained in (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine, which was the most active of the compounds described.