High inhibitory activity of certain halogenated ribofuranosylbenzimidazoles on influenza B virus multiplication.

Earlier studies (Tamm et al., 1954; Tamm, 1954) showed that benzimidazole derivatives of very high inhibitory activity on influenza and mumps virus multiplication could be produced by multiple substitution of chlorine atoms in the benzenoid ring with ft-D-ribofuranose present at Ni in the imidazole ring. In subsequent reports (Tarm, 1955; Tamm, 1956) evidence was presented to show that the moderate degree of selectivity of action exhibited by chloro-ribofuranosyl derivatives was due to the presence of f3-n-ribofuranose at Ni in the imidazole ring. The present report concerns the inhibitory activity of certain chloro, bromo, and iodo derivatives of benzimidazole and that of the corresponding ribofuranosides on the multiplication of influenza B virus in chorioallantoic membrane cultures in vitro. The inhibitory activity of certain halogenated aor ,-linked ribofuranosylbenzimidazoles is compared. The selectivity of action of these compounds as inhibitors of influenza B virus multiplication is asseed.