Design, Synthesis, and Evaluation of Antiviral Activity of Furan-Fused Compounds Directed toward Development of a New Influenza Therapeutic Agent

Abstract

We have accomplished a synthesis of various furan-fused compounds using tandem electrocyclic reaction of benzocyclobutene derivatives, including o-quinodimethane formation and inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction. This synthetic method has several advantageous features such as high generality, short-step sequence, and high stereoselectivity. These furan-fused compounds exhibited antiviral activity against influenza A virus, and favorably showed low cytotoxicity. Moreover, these compounds exhibited the activity against influenza B virus, which is different property from amantadine.

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