Synthesis of some newer formazans and tetrazolium salts and their effect on Ranikhet disease virus and the vaccinia virus.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of formazans and their corresponding tetrazolium salts are described. Several 1,3,5-trisubstituted formazans were prepared by condensing 4-acetoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehydephenylhydrazone and 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone of 2-benzimidazolecarboxaldehyde, with an appropriate phenyldiazonium salt. The formazans derived from 4-acetoxy-3-methoxybenzaldehydephenylhydrazone were further oxidized to their corresponding cyclization products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrazolium salts. Oxidation of 1-aryl-3-(2'-benzimidazolyl)-5-(5-(2',4'-dinitrophenyl) formazans to their corresponding tetrazolium salt did not meet with success. Both the highly coloured formazans and water-soluble tetrazolium salts were screened for their antiviral, activity against vaccinia virus and Ranikhet disease virus in a stationary culture of chorioallantoic membrane of chick embryo. Two of the compounds were found to exhibit significant activity (87% and 83%) against the Ranikhet disease virus. However no activity against vaccinia virus could be observed.