Imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole carbohydrate derivatives: Synthesis and antiviral activity against Junin virus, agent of Argentine hemorrhagic fever

► An improvement methodology to obtain substituted imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles. ► Synthesis and characterization of a series of 12 new imidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles. ► Antiviral evaluation against Junin Virus (JUNV). ► The most active compound showed a level of antiviral activity better than ribavirin. ► Compound taken as model was an effective JUNV inhibitor in human cells.