Synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)furans

Eighteen substituted 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)furans and related analogues, including "masked" amidines in which the guanyl function is incorporated into a heterocyclic ring, have been synthesized and their antimalarial and antitrypanosomal activity has been evaluated. None of the compounds exhibited high orders of antimalarial activity; however, 11 were very active against Trypanosoma rhodesiense in mice. Six compounds, including 2,5-bis(4-guanylphenyl)furan (4) and its 3-chloro (32), 3,4-dichloro (31), 3-methyl (25), 3,4-dimethyl (20), and 3-chloro-4-methyl (38) derivatives, produced cures in mice at submilligram dosage levels; the 3,4-dimethyl (20) analogue exhibited a prolonged curative effect providing protection for 30 days after a single dose against a challenge by T. rhodesiense. These six compounds are somewhat more active in this screen than stilbamidine, hydroxystilbamidine, and pentamidine. The "masked" amidines generally exhibited lower antitrypanosomal activity than their true guanyl counterparts. Compound 4 was synthesized from 1,4-di-p-bromophenyl-1,4-butanedione by cyclodehydrative furanization to 2,5-bis(4-bromophenyl)furan (2) which was allowed to react with Cu2(CN)2 to produce the corresponding bis-nitrile 3. The latter compound was ultimately converted by way of an imidate ester into 4. Similarly, the 3- and/or 4-substituted derivatives of 2 were employed to prepare the other members of the series.