Purine-beta-lactam chimera were prepared as a novel class of hybrid systems through N-alkylation of 6-benzylamino- or 6-benzyloxypurine with (omega-haloalkyl)-beta-lactams, followed by reductive ring opening of the beta-lactam ring by LiEt3BH to provide an entry into the class of purine-aminopropanol hybrids. Both new types of hybrid systems were assessed for their antiviral activity and cytotoxicity, resulting in the identification of eight purine-beta-lactam hybrids and two purine-aminopropanol hybrids as promising lead structures.