Design, Synthesis, and Anti-ToCV Activity of Novel Pyrimidine Derivatives Bearing a Dithioacetal Moiety that Targets ToCV Coat Protein

Novel pyrimidine sulfide derivatives containing a dithioacetal and strobilurin moiety were designed and synthesized. Their antiviral activities against tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) were investigated through the tomato chlorosis virus coat protein (ToCVCP)-oriented screening method. Microscale thermophoresis was used to study the interaction between the compound and the ToCVCP. Compounds and interacted better with ToCVCP than the other compounds and had dissociation constant ( ) values of 0.09 and 0.06 μM, respectively. These values were lower than those of the control agents, (0.19 μM) and (6.54 μM), which indicated that the compounds had a strong binding effect with ToCVCP. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the role of compounds and in the gene regulation of ToCVCP. Both compounds significantly reduced the expression level of the ToCVCP gene in with reduction values of 88 and 83%, which were better than those of (65%) and lead compound (73%). Pyrimidine sulfide containing a dithioacetal and strobilurin moiety is significant in the research and development of novel anti-ToCV agents.