Synthesis, Biological Evaluation, and Structure-Activity Relationships of 2[2-(Benzoylamino)benzoylamino]benzoic Acid Analogues as Inhibitors of Adenovirus Replication

2[2-Benzoylamino)benzoylamino]benzoic acid (1) was previously identified as a potent and nontoxic antiadenoviral compound (Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 2010, 54, 3871). Here, the potency of 1 was improved over three generations of compounds. We found that the ortho, ortho substituent pattern and the presence of the carboxylic acid of 1 are favorable for this class of compounds and that the direction of the amide bonds (as in 1) is obligatory. Some variability in the N-terminal moiety was tolerated, but benzamides appear to be preferred. The substituents on the middle and C-terminal rings were varied, resulting in two potent inhibitors, 35g and 35j, with EC50 = 0.6 mu M and low cell toxicity.