Influence of 6- or 8-substitution on the antiviral activity of 3-arylalkylthiomethylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV): part II.

The synthesis of original imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines bearing a thioether side chain at the 3 position and diversely substituted on the 6 or 8 position, and their antiviral activities are reported. From the synthesized compounds, the imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines bearing a 5 membered heterocycle (thiophene, furane or pyrrole) in the 6 position or a phenylthio group in the 6 or 8 position were the most potent against human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), whereas several other congeners, while less potent, were more selective in their inhibitory activity against VZV and CMV. These compounds showed similar activity against thymidine kinase competent (TK+) and deficient (TK-) VZV strains, demonstrating a mechanism of action independent of the viral thymidine kinase.