Synthesis and antiviral properties of aza-analogues of ganciclovir derived from 5,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-2-one

Studies on the synthesis of N'-acetyl aza-analogues of ganciclovir-unexpected liability of N'-(2-hydroxyethyl)-azanucleosides under basic conditions

The O'-pivaloyl diesters of N'-acetyl-azanucleosides were obtained from N-[1,3-di(pivaloyloxy)prop-2-yl]-N-(pivaloyloxymethyl)acetamide and a silylated nucleobase under Vorbruggen's conditions. Unexpectedly, de-pivaloylation of the diesters under basic conditions afforded the corresponding nucleobase and N-acetylserinol. Mechanistic investigations showed that these products result from the following cascade of spontaneous transformations initiated by the mono de-pivaloylation of the starting diesters. N'-Deacetylation of the resultant mono-esters via the intramolecular N-O acetyl migration is the key step of the cascade; the corresponding NH-azanucleosides in the form of O-acetyl-O'-pivaloyl diesters are formed. Fragmentation of these diester intermediates gives the nucleobase and O-acetyl-O'-pivaloylserinol. Conversion of the latter to N-acetylserinol involves the selective O-N acetyl migration followed by de-pivaloylation of the resulting N-acetyl-O-pivaloylserinol.

Synthesis and antiviral activity evaluation of acyclic 2'-azanucleosides bearing a phosphonomethoxy function in the side chain

Acyclic 2′-azanucleosides with a phosphonomethoxy function in the side chain were obtained by coupling of diethyl {2-[N-(pivaloyloxymethyl)-N-(p-toluenesulfonyl)amino]ethoxymethyl}phosphonate with the pyrimidine nucleobases via the Vorbrüggen-type protocol. The compounds were evaluated in vitro for activity against a broad variety of RNA and DNA viruses.

Synthesis and antiviral evaluation of acyclic azanucleosides developed from sulfanilamide as a lead structure

The acyclic azanucleosides with 2-, 3-, or 4-aminobenzenesulfonyl function at the nitrogen atom of the sugar mimic were prepared by coupling of 2-, 3-, or 4-nitro-N-(2-pivaloyloxyethyl)-N-(pivaloyloxymethyl)benzenesulfonamide with the silylated pyrimidine nucleobases followed by the reduction of the nitro group with sodium dithionite in aqueous solution or the palladium-catalysed transfer hydrogenation. The azanucleosides were evaluated for, but found to be devoid of, activity against several RNA- and DNA-viruses in vitro.