Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel fluorinated 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides

Modified 5'-trityl nucleosides as inhibitors of Plasmodium falciparum dUTPase

2'-Deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) is a potential drug target for the treatment of malaria. We previously reported the discovery of 5'-tritylated analogues of deoxyuridine as selective inhibitors of this Plasmodium falciparum enzyme. Herein we report further structure-activity studies; in particular, variations of the 5'-trityl group, the introduction of various substituents at the 3'-position of deoxyuridine, and modifications of the base. Compounds were tested against both the enzyme and the parasite. Variations of the 5'-trityl group and of the 3'-substituent were well tolerated and yielded active compounds. However, there is a clear requirement for the uracil base for activity, because modifications of the uracil ring result in loss of enzyme inhibition and significant decreases in antiplasmodial action.

An efficient synthesis of 3-fluoro-5-thio-xylofuranosyl nucleosides of thymine, uracil, and 5-fluorouracil as potential antitumor or/and antiviral agents

1,2:5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-glucofuranose by the sequence of mild oxidation, reduction, fluorination, periodate oxidation, borohydride reduction, and sulfonylation gave 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-p-toluenesulfonyl-alpha-D-xylofuranose (5). Tosylate 5 was converted to thioacetate derivative 6, which after acetolysis gave 1,2-di-O-acetyl-5-S-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-5-thio-D-xylofuranose (7). Condensation of 7 with silylated thymine, uracil, and 5-fluorouracil afforded nucleosides 1-(5-S-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-5-thio-beta-D-xylofuranosyl) thymine (8), 1-(5-S-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-5-thio-beta-D-xylofuranosyl) uracil (9), and 1-(5-S-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-5-thio-beta-D-xylofuranosyl) 5-fluorouracil (10). Compounds 8, 9, and 10 are biologically active against rotavirus infection and the growth of tumor cells.

Application of solid-phase chemistry for the synthesis of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine

Reported solution-phase methods for the synthesis of 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine (FLT) are cumbersome, require purification of intermediates, and include several protecting/deprotecting steps. To circumvent these problems, a solid-phase strategy was designed for the synthesis of FLT. Thymidine was immobilized on trityl resin via the 5'-hydroxyl group. The subsequent mesylation of the free 3'-hydroxyl group in the presence of methanesulfonyl chloride afforded the polymer-bound 3'-O-mesylthymidine. Nucleophilic substitution of the mesyl moiety by hydroxyl group in the presence of sodium hydroxide produced the polymer-bound threothymidine. Fluorination with diethylaminosulfur trifluoride followed by acidic cleavage of the polymer-bound FLT in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid afforded FLT.

Fluoro-ketopyranosyl nucleosides: synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-fluoro-2-keto-beta-D-glucopyranosyl derivatives of N4-benzoyl cytosine

1,2:5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-alpha-d-glucofuranose on mild oxidation, reduction, fluorination, and deisopropylidenation followed by acetylation gave peracetylated 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-d-glucopyranose. This was coupled with silylated N(4)-benzoyl cytosine. The nucleoside was deacetylated and after several subsequent protection and deprotection steps afforded the desired 3-fluoro-2-keto-beta-d-glucopyranosyl derivatives. These novel synthesized compounds were evaluated for antiviral and cytotoxic activities against rotavirus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2, and have a promising potential in combating the rotaviral infections and in the treatment of colon cancer. As compared to AZT, a nucleoside analogue of reverse transcriptase inhibitor, the novel synthesized 1-(3,4-dideoxy-3-fluoro-beta-d-glycero-hex-3-enopyranosyl-2-ulose)-N(4)-benzoyl cytosine showed to be more effective at lower concentrations in inhibition of rotavirus infection as well as in the same range of antitumor activity.