Synthesis and antiparasitic and antifungal evaluation of 2'-arylsubstituted-1H,1'H-[2,5']bisbenzimidazolyl-5-carboxamidines

Abstract

A series of 2'-arylsubstituted-1H,1'H-[2,5']-bisbenzimidazolyl-5-carboxamidines were prepared in a six-step process starting from 4-amino-3-nitrobenzonitrile. The antiparasitic activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (T.b.r.), Plasmodium falciparum (P.f.), Leishmania donovani (L.d.) and Trypanosoma cruzi (T.c.) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida krusei were evaluated in vitro. Several compounds showed promising in vitro activity against T.b.r., P.f. and C. albicans and had superior activity against P.f. as compared to chloroquine.