Design, synthesis, and preliminary in vitro and in silico antiviral activity of [4,7]phenantrolines and 1-oxo-1,4-dihydro-[4,7]phenantrolines against single-stranded positive-sense RNA genome viruses

Following the antiviral screening of a wide series of new angular and linear N-tricyclic systems both in silico and in vitro, the [4,7]phenantroline nucleus emerged as a new ring system endowed with activity against viruses containing single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genomes (ssRNA+). Here, we report our new pathway to the synthesis of this nucleus and of several related derivatives, as well as the results of both cell-based antiviral assays and molecular dynamics simulations. In the antiviral screening, several compounds (9 and 16–20) showed to be fairly active against BVDV, CVB-2, and Polio 1 (EC50, 6–25 μM). According to molecular dynamics simulations, compounds (15) and (17) emerged for its potency against the HCV NS5B, with a calculated IC50 of 11–12 μM.

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