Synthesis of 5′-O-phosphonomethyl-2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyuridine by use of P-methoxybenzyl as a N3-protecting group

Synthesis of 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridine-5'- phosphonate analogues and evaluation of their antiviral activity

A small series of 5-(hetero)aryl-modified nucleoside phosphonates was synthesized via an 8-step procedure including a Wittig reaction and Suzuki-Miyaura coupling. An unanticipated anomerization during phosphonate deprotection allowed us to isolate both anomers of the 5-substituted 2'-deoxy-uridine phosphonates and assess their antiviral activity against a broad panel of viruses.

Synthesis and molecular recognition of phosphatidylinositol-3-methylenephosphate

[reaction: see text] Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns(3)P) is a spatial regulator of vesicular trafficking and other vital cellular processes. We describe the asymmetric total synthesis of a metabolically stabilized analogue, phosphatidylinositol-3-methylenephosphate (PtdIns(3)MP) from a differentially protected myo-inositol. NMR studies of PtdIns(3)MP bound to the (15)N-labeled FYVE domain showed significant (1)H and (15)N chemical shift changes relative to the unliganded protein.

Synthesis of 2'-C-beta-fluoromethyluridine

[reaction: see text] 2'-C-beta-Fluoromethyluridine (17) represents both a potentially important biological agent and a tool for biochemical analysis. Here we describe the first synthesis of this compound starting from uridine. The key steps include protection of the uracil base with methoxyethoxymethyl (MEM) chloride, conversion to the corresponding 2'-C-alpha-epoxide, and regioselective opening of the oxirane ring with potassium fluoride/hydrogen fluoride. Subsequent acetylation of the 3'- and 5'-hydroxyl groups enables MEM removal using B-bromocatecholborane. Deacetylation generates the parent nucleoside, 2'-C-beta-flurormethyluridine.

Difluorinated carbaacyclonucleosides: Synthesis and evaluation of antiviral activity

The synthesis of 4-benzoyloxy-5,5-difluoropentan-1-ol from ethyl difluoroacetate is described; its condensation with pyrimidine bases gave carbaacyclonucleosides. which were evaluated, and found inactive, in a large variety of antiviral assays.

Radiosynthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine: [(18)F]FLT for imaging of cellular proliferation in vivo

A reliable radiosynthesis of 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine ([(18)F]FLT) has been developed based on [(18)10 mCi (370 MBq) of radiochemically pure [(18)1 Ci/micromol (37 GBq/micromol) at EOS within 100 min and in 13% radiochemical yield (end of bombardment (EOB); 7% end of synthesis (EOS)). [(18)F]FLT has been designed as a new positron emission tomography imaging agent for visualizing cellular proliferation in vivo based on the metabolism of thymidine.