Synthesis of 3′-C-hydroxymethyl-substituted pyrimidine and purine nucleosides as potential anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) agents

Synthesis of 2'-fluoro and 2',4'-dimethyl pyrimidine C-nucleoside analogues as potential anti-HCV agents

Stereoselective synthesis of novel 2'-fluoro and 2',4'-dimethyl carbocyclic pyrimidine C-nucleoside analogues using selective fluorination of an epoxide opening reaction is described. The key fluorinated intermediate 7 was prepared from the epoxide intermediate 5 via selective ring opening of the epoxide. Synthesis of isonucleosidic bases through the mesylate 7 and final deprotection provided the target carbocyclic pyrimidine C-nucleoside analogues. The synthesized compounds 15 and 18 were evaluated as inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Huh-7 cell line in vitro.