Synthesis and anthelmintic activity of 2,2'-disubstituted 5,5'-dibenzimidazolylsulfides and sulfones

A number of substituted diphenylsulfides and sulfones (4-11) and 2,2'-disubstituted-5,5'-dibenzimidazolyl sulfides and sulphones (12-19) have been synthesized starting from 5-chloro-2-nitroacetanilide and (3) 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyl sulfone (9), respectively. Among the compounds tested against Ancylostoma ceylanicum in hamsters and Hymenolepis nana in rats and mice, 14, 15, 18 and 19 removed 100% of the worms at an oral dose of 25 mg/kg X 1 to 250 mg/kg X 3. Some of the compounds were tested for their blood schizontocidal activity against Plasmodium berghei in mice but none showed any activity up to an oral dose of 10 mg/kg given for 6 days.