Synthesis, tautomerism, and antimicrobial, anti-HCV, anti-SSPE, antioxidant, and antitumor activities of arylazobenzosuberones.

2-Dimethylaminomethylene-1-benzosuberone 1 was coupled with diazotized aniline derivatives to afford a series of the hitherto unreported 2-arylazo-1-benzosuberones 3a-i. The tautomeric structure and the effect of substituents on the tautomeric form (s) of the products 3a-i were discussed. Similar coupling of the enaminone 1 with diazonium salts of heterocyclic amines gave the respective fused azolotriazino-benzosuberones. Some of the newly synthesized compounds showed potent antimicrobial, anti-HCV, antioxidant, antitumor (as topoisomerase I inhibitors), and antimicrobial activities.