Introduction

The present invention concerns the development of a new and effective synthesis methodology based on catalytic carbonilation techniques of a particular class of heterocyclic compounds, namely 2-oxo-2H-pyrrol-1(5H)-carboxymamides, and in the discovery of their pharmacological activity in vitro as powerful anti-HIV agents with a very low degree of toxicity.

Technical features

The current absence of a curative therapy and vaccines for HIV infection determine the high demand for new anti-HIV therapeutic agents that are effective, non-toxic and do contribute to the containment of resistant forms of the virus. The invention concerns the synthesis of 2-oxo-2H-pyrrol-1(5H)-carboxymamides by a novel and efficient synthetic approach involving the catalytic carbonylation of propargyl ureas  capable of associating a significant anti-HIV activity with a low degree of toxicity, and therefore suitable for a prolonged therapeutic treatment. In fact, pharmacological tests in vitro demonstrated that these compounds posses specific anti-HIV activity as potent inhibitors of reverse transcriptase, while showing a cytotoxic activity that in same cases was 10-20 times lower with respect to commercial anti-HIV drugs, such as ripilvirine and etravirine.

Possible Applications

• Innovative drugs for the treatment of HIV infections;
• Pharmacological research.

Advantages

• Favorable activity/toxicity ratio;
• Low operating costs;
• No complex procedures;
• Prolonged therapeutic treatment.