Synthesis, characterization and bioactivity determination of ferrocenyl urea derivatives

Fourteen new ferrocene derivatives containing urea linker were synthesized from the reaction of ferrocenecarbonyl azide with aromatic amines. The structures of the synthetic compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. These organometallic compounds were evaluated by in vitro protease assay using fluorogenic substrate peptide, and several showed potent inhibition against HIV-1 protease. Copyright (C) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.