Synthesis and antiviral activity of D- and L-2′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxy-4′-thiopyrimidine and purine nucleosides

Abstract

Novel D- and L-2′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxy-4′-thionucleosides were synthesized starting from L- and D-xylose via D- and L-4-thioarabitol derivative as key intermediates and evaluated for antiviral activity, respectively. When the final nucleosides were tested against HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and HCMV, they were found to be only active against HCMV without cytotoxicity up to 100 μg/ml.