Synthesis and antiviral activity of several 2,5'-anhydro analogues of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-halouridines, and 3'-deoxythymidine against human immunodeficiency virus and Rauscher-murine leukemia virus

Several 2,5'-anhydro analogues of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 3'-azido-2'3'-dideoxyuridine (AZU), 3'-azido-2'3'-dideoxy-5-bromouridine, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-iodouridine, and 3'-deoxythymidine and the 3'-azido derivative of 5-methyl-2'-deoxyisocytidine have been synthesized for evaluation as potential anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) agents. These 2,5'-anhydro derivatives, compounds 13-17, demonstrated significant anti-HIV-1 activity with IC50 values of 0.56, 4.95, 26.5, 27.1, and 48 microM, respectively. Compared to that of the parent compounds AZT and AZU, the respective 2,5'-anhydro analogues, compounds 13 and 14, were somewhat less active. Whereas AZT was cytotoxic with a TCID50 of 29 microM, the toxicity of the 2,5'-anhydro derivative of AZT, compound 13, was reduced considerably to a TCID50 value of greater than 100 microM. The 2,5'-anhydro analogue of 5-methyl-2'-deoxyisocytidine also demonstrated anti-HIV-1 activity with an IC50 value of 12 microM. These compounds were also evaluated against Rauscher-Murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) in cell culture. Among them, AZT, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-iodouridine, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-bromouridine, and 2,5'-anhydro-3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (13) were found to be most active, with IC50 values of 0.023, 0.21, 0.23, and 0.27 microM, respectively.     

2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxypyrimidine nucleosides. Synthesis and antiviral activity against human immunodeficiency virus

A series of four 2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxypyrimidine nucleosides were synthesized and their activity against human immunodeficiency virus was explored. 2,2'-Anhydro-5-O-benzoyluridine (6a) was prepared from 5-O-benzoyluridine (5a) and converted into 3'-deoxy analogue 8a by imidazolylthiocarbonylation followed by Bu3SnH reduction. Treatment of 8a with LiN3 in DMF followed by saponification afforded 2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (1a). The 5'-O-benzoylated nucleoside 9a was further converted into the 5-bromo and 5-iodo analogues (1b and 1c) by halogenation and debenzoylation. 2',3'-O-Isopropylideneuridine (3) was converted in two steps into the thymine nucleoside, which was benzoylated and de-O-isopropylidenated to afford 5'-O-benzoyl-5-methyluridine (5d). 2'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-methyluridine (1d) was synthesized from 5d in a similar manner as that used for the synthesis of 1a from 5a. These new nucleosides, closely related to AZT, however, did not exhibit any significant anti-HIV activity in tissue culture using H9 cells.     

Brain targeting of anti-HIV nucleosides: synthesis and in vitro and in vivo studies of dihydropyridine derivatives of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine

A significant number of patients with AIDS and AIDS-related complex develop neurological complications. Therefore, it is critical that anti-HIV agents penetrate the blood-brain barrier and suppress viral replication in the brain. In an effort to increase the brain delivery of anti-HIV nucleosides, in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics of dihydropyridine derivatives of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AzddU, AZDU, or CS-87) and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT, Zidovudine) have been studied. In vitro studies of the prodrugs (AzddU-DHP and AZT-DHP) in human serum, mouse serum, and mouse brain homogenate indicated that the rates of serum conversion from prodrugs to parent drugs are species dependent: mouse brain homogenate greater than mouse serum greater than human serum. Half-lives in human serum, mouse serum, and mouse brain homogenate are 4.33, 0.56, 0.17 h, respectively, for AzddU and 7.70, 1.40, and 0.18 h, respectively, for AZT. In vivo studies of AzddU-DHP and AZT-DHP showed that the prodrugs have areas under the serum concentration-time curves (AUC) similar to those of the parent drugs. The AUC in serum for AzddU following prodrug administration is 25.79 micrograms h/mL, which is similar to the value of 25.83 micrograms h/mL when AzddU was administered. Analogously, the serum AUCs for AZT when AZT-DHP and AZT were administered are 25.38 and 26.64 micrograms h/mL, respectively. However, the brain AUCs for both AzddU and AZT derived from prodrugs, being 11.43 and 11.28 micrograms h/mL, respectively, are greater than the brain AUCs for AzddU (2.09 micrograms h/mL) and AZT (1.21 micrograms h/mL) when the parent drugs were administered. Thus, the relative brain exposure (re) for AzddU (5.47) and AZT (9.32) indicate a significant increase in exposure to the anti-HIV nucleosides following prodrug administrations. The results of extended half-lives of the synthesized prodrugs in human serum along with the higher re values in vivo warrant studies in larger animals to determine the potential usefulness of the prodrugs in humans.     

Synthesis and antiretrovirus properties of 5'-isocyano-5'-deoxythymidine, 5'-isocyano-2',5'-dideoxyuridine, 3'-azido-5'-isocyano-3',5'-dideoxythymidine, and 3'-azido-5'-isocyano-2',3',5'-trideoxyuridine

The 5'-azidonucleosides 3 and 4 were obtained by treating thymidine and 2'-deoxyuridine with TPP/DEAD/HN3. The 3'-O-silylated 5'-azido-5'-deoxythymidine 5 and the corresponding 2'-deoxyuridine derivative 6 were transformed to the formamides (7 and 8, respectively) and dehydrated to the protected 5'-isocyano derivatives 9 and 10; deblocking gave 5'-isocyano-5'-deoxythymidine (11) and 5'-isocyano-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (12). 2,3'-Anhydro-5'-formamido derivatives of thymidine and 2'-deoxyuridine (19 and 20, respectively) were prepared by three different ways. In the most direct synthesis 3 and 4 were transformed to the 2,3'-anhydro-5'- azidonucleosides 17 and 18 by using TPP/DEAD; following the reaction with TPP/HCO2COCH3 gave 19 and 20. Nucleophilic opening reaction with LiN3 yielded the 3'-azido-5'-formylamino derivatives 21 and 22. Dehydration to 3'-azido-5'-isocyano-3',5'-dideoxythymidine (23) and 3'-azido-5'-isocyano-2',3',5'-trideoxyuridine (24) was achieved with tosyl chloride/pyridine. In contrast with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine, compounds 11, 12, 23, and 24 were devoid of any marked inhibitory effect against DNA and RNA viruses including human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV).     

Inhibition of hepatitis B virus production by modified 2',3'-dideoxy-thymidine and 2',3'-dideoxy-5-methylcytidine derivatives. In vitro and in vivo studies.

The effect of analogues of both 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluorothymidine (FddThd) [2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluorouridine (FddUrd), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-chlorouridine (FddClUrd), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'- fluoro-5-bromouridine (FddBrUrd) and 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-bromovinyluridine (FddBVUrd)] and 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluorocytidine (FddCyt) [2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-fluorocytidine (FddFCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-chlorocytidine (FddClCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-methylcytidine (FddMeCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-ethylcytidine (FddEtCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-chloro-5-methylcytidine (ClddMeCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-amino-5-methylcytidine (AmddMeCyt), 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-azido-5- methylcytidine (AzddMeCyt) and arabinosyl-5-methylcytosine (AraMeCyt)] were tested for their potential antiviral activity in vitro using the human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2 2.2.15, which was transfected with a vector containing hepatitis B virus (HBV). It was found that FddThd, FddMeCyt, FddEtCyt, ClddMeCyt, AmddMeCyt and AraMeCyt display cytostatic activity at concentrations (CD50 values) between 0.54 (FddMeCyt) and 3.93 microM (FddEtCyt), while FddUrd, FddClUrd, FddBrUrd, FddBVUrd, FddCyt, FddFCyt, FddClCyt and AzddMeCyt do not affect cell growth at concentrations of up to 25 microM. Among the thymidine analogues tested, FddThd is the most effective antiviral agent: at a concentration of 0.03 microM a more than 90% reduction of HBV DNA synthesis was measured. On the other hand, the antiviral indexes displayed by FddClUrd, FddBrUrd and FddBVUrd are higher than tht of FddThd; FddUrd was completely inactive. The most powerful antiviral agents in the group of cytidine analogues tested in vitro were FddMeCyt (more than 90% reduction of HBVDNA synthesis at 0.10 microM) and ClddMeCyt (0.10 microM); FddClCyt, FddEtCyt, AmddMeCyt and AraMeCyt were of intermediate activity. None of the negligible antiviral activity was determined for FddUrd, FddCyt, FddFCyt and AzddMeCyt. FddThd and FddMeCyt displayed in vivo an antiviral effect in the duck/duck HBV (DHBV) animal system. Administration of 10 or 20 mg/kg (total daily dose) of FddThd and 5 or 10 mg/kg of FddMeCyt (i.m. daily) to ducks infected with DHBV for 12 days blocked virus production. Termination of treatment with FddThd of infected animals led to reappearance of the virus in the serum though at lower levels. The in vitro and the in vivo data suggest that FddThd and FddMeCyt might be promising antiviral agents for the treatment of infection caused by HBV in humans.     

Synthesis and biological activities of 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridine and 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine.

5-Trifluoromethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (1) was tosylated with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in dry pyridine at 3 degrees to give 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-O-(p-tolylsulfonyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (2), which was converted to 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (3) by reacting with lithium azide in N,N-dimethylformamide at 85-90 degrees for 2 h. Compound 3 was then hydrogenated in ethanol-water (1:1, v/v) at room temperature and 35 psi of hydrogen pressure, using 10% palladium on charcoal as cstalyst, to yield 5-trifluoromethyl-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (4). Compound 4 is about fourfold less potent than compound 1 as an antiviral agent but is about 40-fold less toxic to the host Vero cells. Thus the therapeutic index of compound 1 has been improved by a factor of 10 by replacement of the 5'-hydroxyl with an amino group. Compound 1, however, is more than 100-fold more inhibitory to Sarcoma 180 cells in culture relative to compound 4. Compound 3 is markedly less potent than compound 1 or 4 as either an antiviral or an antineoplastic compound.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of 2',3'-dideoxyribo-5-chloropyrimidine analogues: reduced toxicity of 5-chlorinated 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides

In view of the selective anti-HIV activity of 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-5-chlorouridine (11), a series of eight 2',3'-dideoxy-5-chloropyrimidines were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication in MT-4 cells. A marked improvement in selectivity was noted for the 5-chlorouracil derivatives of 2,3-dideoxyribofuranose, 3-azido-2,3-dideoxyribofuranose, and 3-fluoro-2,3-dideoxyribofuranose, mainly due to decreased toxicity of the compounds for the host cells. While chlorination of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine removed the anti-HIV activity, introduction of a chlorine at the C-5 position of 3'-fluoro-, 3'-azido- or 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxycytidine led to reduced cytotoxicity with only slightly reduced anti-HIV activity. X-ray analysis showed compound 11 to have two molecules in the asymmetric unit with chi = -168.8 (3) degrees and -131.3 (3) degrees and P = 179 (1) degree and 163 (1) degree, respectively; thus revealing no close resemblance to 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT).     

Comparative pharmacokinetics of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AZddU) in mice

The pharmacokinetics of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AZddU, CS-87), active anti-HIV compounds, were characterized in uninfected mice. Sensitive and specific HPLC techniques were used to quantitate AZT and AZddU concentrations in serum and brain homogenates following iv doses of 50 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetic parameters of t1/2, CIt, and Vss were similar for both compounds at each dose; however, CIt and Vss decreased at the higher dose, indicating a dose dependency. At the 50 mg/kg doses, the CIt of AZddU and AZT was 1.27 liters/hr/kg and 1.38 liters/hr/kg, respectively, which is analogous to the clearance value of AZT observed in humans. Brain/serum concentration ratios for AZddU tended to be greater than those obtained for AZT and were significantly different at the 50 mg/kg dose, being 0.234 +/- 0.282 for AZddU and 0.064 +/- 0.025 for AZT.     

Glucuronidation of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine catalyzed by human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. Significance of nucleoside hydrophobicity and inhibition by xenobiotics

The enzymatic glucuronidation of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) catalyzed by human liver microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.17, UDPGT) was inhibited by a number of nucleoside analogs. The inhibitory potency of these nucleoside analogs correlated with their hydrophobicity (r2 = 0.90, N = 13). Since similar results were obtained with solubilized UDPGT (r2 = 0.87, N = 7), the affinity of the nucleosides for UDPGT was probably being assessed rather than the ability of the compounds to access the membrane-bound enzyme. Three homologous inhibitors, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AzddU), 5-ethyl-AzddU, and 5-propyl-AzddU, were also studied as substrates of UDPGT. The substrate efficiency (Vmax/Km) of these three compounds and AZT also correlated with their hydrophobicity (r2 = 0.94). Sixteen drugs that are structurally unrelated to nucleosides also inhibited the glucuronidation of AZT. The mechanism of inhibition was competitive for seven compounds tested. Ki values were estimated from Dixon plots for nine other less soluble inhibitors; their mechanism of inhibition was assumed to be competitive. Since the peak physiological drug concentrations of the tested inhibitors are considerably less than their Ki values, none of these compounds are expected to strongly inhibit AZT glucuronidation in humans. However, the rank order of these drugs with respect to their inhibitory potential is probenecid greater than chrloramphenicol greater than naproxen greater than phenylbutazone much greater than other drugs tested.     

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of different sugar-modified pyrimidine and purine nucleosides

A series of base-modified pyrimidine 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides and 3'-substituted purine and pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides have been synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication in MT-4 cells. The following pyrimidine derivatives emerged as the most potent and/or selective inhibitors of HIV-induced cytopathogenicity (in order of decreasing selectivity: 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT), 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AzddUrd), 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-5-methylcytidine (AzddMeCyd), 3'-fluoro-ddUrd (FddUrd), 3'-fluoro-ddThd (FddThd), the N4-hydroxylated derivative of AzddMeCyd and the N4-methylated derivative of AzddMeCyd. Among the purine 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (AzddGuo), 3'-fluoro-ddGuo (FddGuo), and 3'-fluoro-2,6-diaminopurine 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (FddDAPR) were the most selective inhibitors of HIV replication.     

Cellular metabolism of 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine with formation of 5'-O-diphosphohexose derivatives by previously unrecognized metabolic pathways for 2'-deoxyuridine analogs

3'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (AzdU, CS-87) is a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with limited toxicity for human bone marrow cells (BMC). In the present study, metabolism of AzdU was investigated in human PBMC and BMC after exposure of cells to 2 or 10 microM [3H]AzdU. 3'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine-5'-monophosphate (AzdU-MP) was the predominant metabolite, representing approximately 55 to 65% of intracellular radioactivity in both PBMC and BMC at all times. The AzdU-5'-diphosphate and -5'-triphosphate intracellular levels were 10- to 100-fold lower than the AzdU-MP levels and, of note, AzdU-5'-triphosphate was not detected in human BMC. Using anion exchange chromatography, a new peak of radioactivity, distinct from any known anabolites, was detected. This chromatographic peak was found to be resistant to alkaline phosphatase but was hydrolyzed by 5'-phosphodiesterase, yielding AzdU-MP. Incubation of [3H]AzdU and D-[1-14C]glucose in PBMC and BMC produced a double-labeled peak with the same retention time as the anabolite, suggesting formation of a hexose derivative of AzdU. A novel high performance liquid chromatography method was developed that allowed for the separation of nucleosides, nucleotides, and carbohydrate derivatives thereof. Using this highly specific method, the putative AzdU-hexose actually was separated into two chromatographic peaks. These novel metabolites were identified as 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine-5'-O-diphosphoglucose and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridine-5'-O-diphospho-N-acetylglucosamine. Following 48 hr of incubation with [3H] AzdU, as much as 20 and 30% of these AzdU metabolites accumulated in PBMC and BMC, respectively. When AzdU was removed from the cell cultures, intracellular AzdU diphosphohexose concentrations decayed in a monophasic manner, with an elimination half-life of 14.3 hr. By 48 hr, levels of 0.3 pmol/10(6) cells were still detected, reflecting a gradual anabolism of these metabolites. Elimination of AzdU-MP and AzdU-5'-diphosphate was characterized by a two-phase process, with a short initial half-life of 0.83 and 0.24 hr and a long terminal half-life of 14.10 and 8.24 hr, respectively. Similar diphosphohexoses of deoxyuridine (dUrd) were also detected in human PBMC and BMC after exposure to [3H]dUrd, suggesting that dUrd derivatives are metabolized in a similar manner. In summary, the discovery of novel metabolic pathways for dUrd analogs demonstrates that AzdU has unique metabolic features that may contribute to the low toxicity of this anti-HIV agent in human BMC and also affect its mechanism of action.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

3'-Fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine: most selective anti-HIV-1 agent among a series of new 2'- and 3'-fluorinated 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues

A series of 2'- and 3'-fluorinated 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides and 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides were synthesized and evaluated for their inhibitory activity against human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) replication in MT-4 cells. Neither conversion of 3'-fluoro- or 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine to the corresponding inosine derivatives nor 8-bromination of 2',3'-dideoxyadenosine resulted in increased anti-HIV-1 activity. Nor did introduction of a 2'-fluorine in the erythro or threo configuration lead to improved anti-HIV-1 activity of the parent 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides. 1-(2-Fluoro-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-threo-pentofuranosyl)cytosine and 1-(2-fluoro-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-erythropentofuranosyl)thymine were only marginally active. However, 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyuridine (FddUrd) proved to be potent and a relatively nontoxic inhibitor of HIV-1. 5-Halogenated derivatives of FddUrd were prepared in attempts to further increase its anti-HIV potency and selectivity. Of these 5-halogenated derivatives, 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-chlorouridine emerged as the most selective inhibitor of HIV-1 replication. Its selectivity index was comparable to that of azidothymidine when evaluated under the same conditions.     

Synthesis and antiviral and cytostatic properties of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluoro- and 2'-azido-3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-D-ribofuranosides of natural heterocyclic bases

A series of 3'-deoxy-3'-fluoro- and 2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-D-ribofuranosides of natural heterocyclic bases have been synthesized with the use of universal carbohydrate precursors, viz., 1-O-acetyl-2,5-di-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-3-fluoro-D-ribofuranose and methyl 2-azido-5-O-benzoyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-beta-D-ribofuranoside, respectively. The cytostatic and antiviral activity of the compounds was evaluated against a variety of tumor cell lines and DNA/RNA viruses, respectively. As the most active compound, from both a cytostatic and antiviral activity viewpoint, emerged 3'-deoxy-3'-fluoroadenosine. It inhibited the proliferation of some tumor cell lines (i.e. murine leukemia L1210 and human T-lymphocyte MT-4) at a concentration of 0.2-2 micrograms/mL, and proved inhibitory to the replication of positive-stranded RNA viruses (i.e. polio, Coxsackie, Sindbis, Semliki forest), double-stranded RNA viruses (i.e. reo), and some DNA viruses (i.e. vaccinia) at a concentration of 1-4 micrograms/mL, which is well below the cytotoxicity threshold (40 micrograms/mL).     

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 5- and 5'-substituted thymidine analogs.

The 5'-O-p-tolylsulfonyl derivatives of 5-chloro-, 5-bromo-, and 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine were synthesized and converted into the corresponding 5-halo-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridines (5-7). Reduction of 5-chloro-5'-azido-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (5) afforded 5-chloro-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (10, ACIU); however, similar efforts to prepare 5-bromo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (11) and 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (12) by reduction of the corresponding 5'-azido precursor resulted in the formation of 5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (9). 5-Bromo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (11, ABrU) and 5-iodo-5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine (12, AIU) were prepared by halogenation of the 5-mercuriacetate of 5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxyuridine. The 5'-amino-2',5'-dideoxy analogs of 5-methyl-, 5-chloro-, 5-bromo-, and 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine possess antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus but exhibit no inhibitory activity against sarcoma 180 (murine) or Vero (monkey) cells in culture.     

Synthesis of 2',5'-dideoxy-2-fluoroadenosine and 2',5'-dideoxy-2,5'-difluoroadenosine: potent P-site inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase

Glycosylation of 2-fluoroadenine with the appropriate protected thioglycoside derivatives, followed by deprotection and anomer separation, produced the alpha- and beta-anomers of 2',5'-dideoxy-2-fluoroadenosine (1), 2',5'-dideoxy-2,5'-difluoroadenosine (2), and 2'-deoxy-2-fluoroadenosine (3). These were examined as P-site inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase. The presence of fluorine on the purine ring increased potency of inhibition, and the most potent compound, beta-2',5'-dideoxy-2-fluoroadenosine (1b), was 3 times more potent than beta-2',5'-dideoxyadenosine.     

Anti-retrovirus activity of 3'-fluoro- and 3'-azido-substituted pyrimidine 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues

The 3'-fluoro-and 3'-azido-substituted derivatives of 2',3'-dideoxythymidine (ddThd), 2',3'-dideoxyuridine (ddUrd), 2',3'-dideoxy-5-ethyluridine (ddEtUrd) and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddCyd) have been synthesized and evaluated for their anti-retrovirus activity [against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and murine Moloney sarcoma virus (MSV)]. Based on their 50% effective doses the most potent inhibitors of HIV replication in human MT4 lymphocytes were: FddThd (0.001 microM), AzddThd (0.004 microM), FddUrd (0.04 microM) and AzddUrd (0.36 microM). Their selectivity indexes were 197, 5000, 500 and 677, respectively. In contrast, none of the 3'-substituted ddEtUrd derivatives had a marked antiviral effect. The 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogues showed poor, if any, substrate affinity for (bacterial) dThd phosphorylase. AzddThd and FddThd inhibited human dThd kinase to a much greater extent (Ki/Km: 0.66 and 3.4, respectively) than did AzddUrd or FddUrd (Ki/Km: 71 and 171, respectively). The Ki/Km values of FddCyd and AzddCyd for human dCyd kinase were about 60. Although phosphorylation is a prerequisite for the anti-retrovirus activity of the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside derivatives, there is no close correlation between the anti-retrovirus potency of the 3'-fluoro- and 3'-azido-substituted ddUrd, ddThd, ddEtUrd and ddCyd derivatives and their affinity for dThd kinase or dCyd kinase.     

Fluorinated sugar analogues of potential anti-HIV-1 nucleosides

In order to obtain agents with therapeutic indices superior to those of AZT, FLT, or D4T, several analogues of anti-HIV-1 nucleosides were synthesized. These include 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3' -difluoro-5-methyluridine (13), its arabino analogue 19, arabino-5-methylcytosine analogue 21, 3'-deoxy-2',3'-didehydro-2' -fluorothymidine (25), 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-fluoro-5-methyluridine (29), 2'-azido-3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-5-methyluridine (31), and 2'3'-dideoxy-2' -fluoro-5-methyluridine (37). These new nucleosides were screened for their activity against HIV and feline TLV in vitro. None of the compounds showed significant activity. It is interesting to note that such a small modification in the sugar moiety of active anti-HIV nucleosides (i.e., displacement of hydrogen by fluorine) almost completely inactivate the agents.     

3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleosides of some pyrimidines: synthesis and biological activities

3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxyribonucleosides of thymine, uracil, and 5-iodouracil (1-3) were synthesized from the corresponding 2'-deoxyribonucleosides via the threo-3'-chloro and the erythro-3'-azido derivatives. Corresponding aminonucleosides of 5-bromouracil, 5-chlorouracil, and 5-fluorouracil (4-6) were synthesized enzymatically with 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxythymidine as the aminopentosyl donor and thymidine phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.4) as the catalyst. 3'-Amino-2',3'-dideoxycytidine (7) was synthesized by amination of the 3'-azido precursor of 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxyuridine. The biological activity of 3'-amino-2',3'-dideoxy-5-fluorouridine (6) was notable among this group of aminonucleosides. It had an ED50 of 10 microM against adenovirus and was not appreciably cytotoxic to mammalian cells in culture. It also had activity against some Gram-positive bacteria but not against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria. The other aminonucleosides (1-5 and 7) lacked or exhibited weak antiviral and antibacterial activities. The only compounds in this group that were appreciably toxic to mammalian cells in culture were the thymidine and deoxycytidine analogues (1 and 7).     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of dinucleoside methylphosphonates of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine and 2', 3'-dideoxycytidine

The 5'----5' dinucleoside methylphosphonates of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) and 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (DDC) were prepared and evaluated for their inhibitory properties against different viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The synthesis of the compounds was achieved by reaction of AZT or N4-(4-monomethoxytrityl)-2',3'-dideoxycytidine with in situ prepared methylphosphonic bis (triazolide), followed in the latter case by an acidic treatment. The two title compounds showed in vitro anti-HIV activity, that was 200- to 450-fold less pronounced that that shown by the corresponding monomeric nucleosides AZT and DDC. The decreased antiviral activity may be ascribed to nuclease resistance of the methylphosphonate linkage.     

Intracellular metabolism of CycloSaligenyl 3'-azido-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine monophosphate, a prodrug of 3'-azido-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine (zidovudine)

The administration of CycloSaligenyl 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine monophosphate (CycloSal-AZTMP) to CEM cells resulted in a concentration- and time-dependent conversion to the 5'-monophosphate (AZTMP), 5'-diphosphate (AZTDP), and 5'-triphosphate (AZTTP) derivatives. High ratios of AZTMP/AZTTP were found in the CEM cell cultures treated with CycloSal-AZTMP. The intracellular T(1/2) of AZTTP in CEM cell cultures treated with either AZT and CycloSal-AZTMP was approximately 3 h. A variety of human T- and B-lymphocyte cell lines efficiently converted the prodrug to the AZT metabolites, whereas peripheral blood lymphocytes and primary monocyte/macrophages showed at least 10-fold lower metabolic conversion of the prodrug. CycloSal-AZTMP failed to generate marked levels of AZT metabolites in thymidine kinase-deficient CEM/TK(-) cells, an observation that is in agreement with the substantial loss of antiviral activity of CycloSal-AZTMP in CEM/TK(-) cells. The inability of CycloSal-AZTMP to generate AZTMP in CEM/TK(-) cells is presumably due to a relatively high hydrolysis rate of AZTMP to the parent nucleoside AZT, combined with the inability of CEM/TK(-) cells to phosphorylate AZT to AZTMP through the cytosolic salvage enzyme thymidine kinase.