Aromatic guanyl hydrazones: Synthesis, structural studies and in vitro activity against Trypanosoma cruzi

A series of 22 aromatic guanyl hydrazones, prepared by condensation of several aldehydes with aminoguanidine hydrochloride, were fully characterized by NMR techniques and tested in vitro against the trypomastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease. Most of the compounds, especially those without hydrogen bonding groups and possessing ortho-substitution, were significantly more active than crystal violet (ID50 536 mu M). The most active compound has an ID50 value of 17 mu M (25 times more potent than gentian violet).