Synthesis and biological characterization of new aryloxyindole-4,9-diones as potent trypanosomicidal agents

A new indole-4,9-dione and their phenoxy derivatives were synthesized and evaluated in vitro against the epimastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi, Y strain. All of these novel compounds were found to be extremely potent and selective that the standard drug nifurtimox. Interestingly, phenoxyindole-4,9-dione 9d displayed excellent nanomolar inhibitory activity, IC50 = 20 nM, and high selectivity index, SI = 625. In silico studies using MOE program were performed to generate a preliminary pharmacophore model.