Bis-benzimidazole derivs. - useful as antiparasitic and antiviral agents

Bis-benzimidazoles of formula (I) and their salts are new:- (where A is 2,5-thiophenediyl, 2,5-furandiyl, p- or m-phenylene, or 4,4'-phenoxyphenylene; Q is -CR3R4-CR5R6-, -CR3R4-CR5R6-CR7R8- or -CR3R4-CR5R6-CR7R8-CR9R10; R2-R10 are independently H, 1-4C alkyl, 1-4C aminoalkyl, mono- or di (1-4C alkyl)aminoalkyl or phenyl, or two R2-R10 gps. can form a 2-4C alkylene bridge). (I) have antiparasitic and antiviral activity, and are esp. useful for chemotherapy of trypanosomiasis in humans and animals. A typical cpd. is 2,5-bis 5(6)- 4(5)-methyl-2-imidazolin-2-yl)-2-benzimidazolyl -th- iophene. In an example, this is prepd. from 2-(3,4-diaminophenyl)-4(5)-methyl-2-imidazoline and thiophene-2,5-dicarboximidic acid-ethyl ester.