Synthesis, characterization and anti-HIV and antitumor activities of new coumarin derivatives

A new series of coumarin and benzofuran derivatives were synthesized as potential non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) by reacting, separately, 4-bromomethylcoumarins, their sulphonyl chlorides, and ethyl 3-(bromomethyl)-6-methoxy-1-benzofuran-2-carboxylate with different imidazoles and their benzo analogs. The antiviral (HIV-1, HIV-2) properties of the newly synthesized compounds were investigated in vitro and all compounds were found to be inactive, except 10 which showed inhibition of HIV-2 with EC50 > 0.51 ?gmL?1. The in vitro cytotoxicity of 17 and 19 was assayed against a panel of tumor cell lines consisting of CD4 human T-cells.