STEREOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS, CHEMISTRY AND ANTIVIRAL EVALUATION OF 1-(2,3-DIDEOXY-3-C-HYDROXYMETHYL-BETA-D-THREO-PENTOFURANOSYL)THYMINE DERIVATIVES

A series of novel 3'-C-branched 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides have been synthesized and evaluated as anti-HIV agents. Hydroboration of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-C-methylene nucleoside proceeded regio- and stereoselectively to give 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-C-hydroxymethyl-5- O-trityl-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (5) after oxidation. 3'-C-Chloromethyl and 3'-C-iodomethyl 5'-O protected 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides 9 and 12 were obtained from 5 by reaction with carbon tetrachloride/triphenylphosphine and methyltriphenoxyphosphonium iodide, respectively. Arbuzov reaction of 12 with triethyl phosphite afforded 3'-C-(diethylphosphono)methyl 5'-O-protected 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside 14. Compounds 5, 9, 12 and 14 were detritylated to give 1-(3-C-chloromethyl-2,3-dideoxy- beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (10), 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-C-hydroxymethyl-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (11), 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-C-iodomethyl-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (13) and 1-(2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(O,O'-diethylphosphono)methyl-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)thymine (15), respectively. These nucleoside analogues were evaluated for antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in vitro. Compound 5 demonstrated selective antiviral activity against HIV-1 but not HSV-1.