Bioisosteric replacement of the carboxylic acid group in Hepatitis-C virus NS5B thumb site II inhibitors: phenylalanine derivatives

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a global health concern and the NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) of HCV is an attractive target for drug discovery due to its role in viral replication. This study focuses on NS5B thumb site II inhibitors, specifically phenylalanine derivatives, and explores bioisosteric replacement and prodrug strategies to overcome limitations associated with carboxylic acid functionality. The synthesized compounds demonstrated antiviral activity, with compound 6d showing the most potent activity with an EC50 value of 3.717 μM. The hydroxamidine derivatives 7a-d showed EC50 values ranging from 3.9 μM to 11.3 μM. However, the acidic heterocyclic derivatives containing the oxadiazolone (8a-d) and oxadiazolethione (9a-d) rings did not exhibit measurable activity. A methylated heterocycle 10b showed a hint of activity at 8.09 μM. The pivaloyloxymethyl derivatives 11a and 11b did not show antiviral activity. Further studies are warranted to fully understand the effects of these modifications and to explore additional strategies for developing novel therapeutic options for HCV. [Display omitted] •Compound 6d showed most promising activity.•Nitrile group is a suitable bioisostere of carboxylic acid group.•Acidic heterocyclic isosteres didn't have activity.•Methylation of one heterocyclic isostere showed activity.•Methyl might be acting as a prodrug-forming group.