Synthesis of new 3-acetyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolines combined with pyrimidines as antileishmanial and antiviral agents

A new series of 3-acetyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoline hybrid molecules was designed and synthesized using a condensation between acyclonucleosides and substituted phenylhydrazone. All intermediates and final products were screened against Leishmania donovani, a Protozoan parasite and against three viruses SARS-CoV-2, HCMV and VZV. While no significant activity was observed against the viruses, the intermediate with 6-azatymine as thymine and 5-azathymine-3-acetyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoline hybrid exhibited a significant antileishmanial activity. The later compound was the most promising, exhibiting an IC50 value at 8.98 µM on L. donovani intramacrophage amastigotes and a moderate selectivity index value at 2.4.