To combine the rigidity of 2-phenylbenzofurans with the flexibility of pentamidine congeners, Tidwell RR et al [35] incorporated the benzofuran ring into molecules of pentamidine-related analogues. A series of 48 pentamidine congeners containing benzofuran fragments (Figure 10a , b) were synthesized and tested in vitro against T. b. rhodesiense. Most of the compounds in the series showed cytotoxicity less than that of pentamidine, but had lesser potency and selectivity index as compared to pentamidine. The properties and cytotoxicities of these dications depended on the nature of the cationic substituents, the placement of the benzofuran motif, and the length of the carbon linker.