Synthesis and SAR of novel 1,1-dialkyl-2(1H)-naphthalenones as potent HCV polymerase inhibitors

Abstract A series of gem -dialkyl naphthalenone derivatives with varied alkyl substitutions were synthesized and evaluated according to their structure–activity relationship. This investigation led to the discovery of potent inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus at low nanomolar concentrations in both enzymatic and cell-based HCV genotype 1a assays.