Synthesis of Some 2′,3′-Dideoxy-2′-C-Methyl-Substituted Nucleosides

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Bis(hydroxymethyl)-Branched Cyclohexenyl and Cyclohexyl Purines as Potential Inhibitors of HIV

The synthesis of the enantiomerically pure bis(hydroxymethyl)-branched cyclohexenyl and cyclohexyl purines is described. Racemic trans-4,5-bis(methoxycarbonyl)cyclohexene [(+/-)-6] was reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to give the racemic diol (+/-)-7. Resolution of (+/-)-7 via a transesterification process using lipase from Pseudomonas sp. (SAM-II) gave both diols in enantiomerically pure form. The enantiomerically pure diol (S,S)-7was benzoylated and epoxidized to give the epoxide 9. Treatment of the epoxide 9 with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate and 1,5-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-5-ene followed by dilute hydrochloric acid gave (1R,4S,5R)-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-1-hydroxycyclohex-2-ene (10). Acetylation of 10 gave (1R,4S,5R)-1-acetoxy-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]cyclohex-2-ene (11). (1R,4S,5R)-1-Acetoxy-4,5-bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]cyclohex-2-ene (11) was converted to the adenine derivative 12 and guanine derivative 13 via palladium(0)-catalyzed coupling with adenine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine, respectively. Hydrogenation of 12 and 13 gave the correspondning saturated adenine derivative 14 and guanine derivative 15. (1R,4S,5R)-4,5-Bis[(benzoyloxy)methyl]-1-hydroxycyclohex-2-ene (10) was converted to the adenine derivative 16 and guanine derivative 17 via coupling with 6-chloropurine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine, respectively, using a modified Mitsunobu procedure. Hydrogenation of 16 and 17 gave the corresponding saturated adenine derivative 18 and guanine derivative 19. Compounds 12-19 were evaluated for activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but were found to be inactive. Further biological testings are underway.