A series of 1-cycloalkyl-2-phenyl-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylic acid derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for inhibitory activity against HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp). A SAR study was performed and led to identify the 2-[(4-diarylmethoxy) phenyl]-benzimidazoles as potent inhibitors. They inhibit subgenomic HCV RNA replication in the replicon cells at low micromolar concentrations (EC50 as low as 1.1 μM). They are ...