Synthesis of novel 3'-hydroxymethyl 5'-deoxythreosyl phosphonic acid nucleoside analogues as potent antiviral agents

Nucleosides with Transposed Base or 4'-Hydroxymethyl Moieties and Their Corresponding Oligonucleotides

This review focuses on 4'-hydroxymethyl- or nucleobase-transposed nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleoside phosphonates, their stereoisomers, and their close analogues. The biological activities of all known 4'-hydroxymethyl- or nucleobase-transposed nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleoside phosphonates as potential antiviral or anticancer agents are compiled. The routes that have been taken for the chemical synthesis of such nucleoside derivatives are described, with special attention to the innovative strategies. The enzymatic synthesis, base-pairing properties, structure, and stability of oligonucleotides containing nucleobase- or 4'-hydroxymethyl-transposed nucleotides are discussed. The use of oligonucleotides containing nucleobase- or 4'-hydroxymethyl-transposed nucleotides as small oligonucleotide (e.g., human immunodeficiency virus integrase) inhibitors, in applications such as antisense therapy, silencing RNA (siRNA), or aptamer selections, is detailed.

Synthesis of novel 2'-fluoro-3'-hydroxymethyl-5'-deoxythreosyl phosphonic acid nucleoside analogues as antiviral agents

A series of purine 5'-deoxyphosphonate analogues were designed and synthesized to mimic naturally occurring purine monophosphate from 1,3-dihydroxyacetone as starting material. The discovery of threosyl phosphonate nucleoside (PMDTA, EC50 = 2.53 μM) as a potent anti-HIV agent has led to the synthesis and biological evaluation of 2',3'-modified 5'-deoxyversions of the threosyl phosphonate nucleosides. The synthesized 2'-fluoro-3'-hydroxymethyl 5'-deoxythreosyl phosphonic acid nucleoside analogues 14, 18, 23, and 27 were tested for anti-HIV activity as well as cytotoxicity. The adenine analogue 18 exhibits weak in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity (EC50 = 19.2 μM).