Antiviral compounds nucleosides

Azabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-3-one, a bicyclic y-lactam, is an intermediate for the synthesis of antiviral carbocyclic nucleosides (Figure 6.41). This compound was resolved using a cloned lactamase in an industrial-scale process [106,107]. 

By far, 2-fluoro-2-deoxyfuranoses have been the most studied compounds. Indeed, at a structural level they are the closest analogues of 2-deoxynucleosides. Due to its electronic effect, the fluorine atom in the 2 position inhibits development of a positive charge on the anomeric carbon (which is responsible for the hydrolytic cleavage of nucleosides). In order to enhance the stability of 2-deoxynucleosides in acidic medium, and thus make oral administration of an antiviral compound easier, introduction of a fluorine atom in the 2 position is a commonly used strategy. The resulting protective effect toward proteolysis has been well demonstrated, as exemplified by the fluorinated analogues of ddl and ddA (cf. Chapter 3, Figure 3.13). However, the presence of this fluorine atoms often induces modifications in the antiviral properties of the molecule. ... 

Modified nucleosides have proved to be among the best antiviral compounds. The most famous anti-AIDS drug, AZT (zidovudine from Glaxo Wellcome), is a slightly modified DNA nucleoside (3 -azidothymidine). It has an azide at C3 instead of the hydroxyl group in the natural nucleoside. 

In previous studies performed with similar heterodinucleoside phosphate dimers composed of the antivirally active nucleosides azidothymidine, dideoxycytidine and dideoxyinosine and formulated in liposomes we found significantly different pharmacokinetic properties and superior antiviral effects in comparison to the parent hydrophilic nucleosides (33, 34). Thus, the chemical modification of cytotoxic nucleosides and their formulation in liposomes render these new hetero-dinucleoside compounds interesting candidates for further developments. 

Several reviews have been published dealing with natural products-derived antiviral compounds [11,12,16-23]. Presently, there are only two plant-derived compounds under clinical development [2]. (+)-Calanolide A (12) is a C22 coumarin isolated from the Malaysian rainforest tree, Calophyllum langigerum by the U.S. National Cancer Institute [2]. It shows a potent HIV-RT inhibitory activity [2]. In vitro studies of 12 demonstrated activity against HIV-1 including AZT and other nonnucleoside RT inhibitors-resistant strains. It also shows synergistic anti-HIV activity in combination with nucleoside RT inhibitors 7, 8 and 9 [2]. To overcome the difficulty of supply of 12, its total chemical synthesis was accomplished [2]. In June 1997, clinical development of 12 was started as a potential drug for treatment of AIDS. A single -center 7-month U.S. phase la clinical trial of 12 was started to assess its safety and... 

The enantiomer of 154 can be made by using the corresponding L-alanine derivative as the chiral auxiliary. Compound 154 is also a precursor to the antiviral carbocyclic nucleoside, neplanodn A, and the antitumour agent, 5 -noraristeromycin. ... 

For example, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor capravirine, an antiviral compound originally developed for the treatment of HIV, undergoes multiple oxidations in human body. Numerous monooxygenated as well as di-, tri-, and tetra-oxygenated metabolites are formed [40]. Using a sequential incubation ... 

I eplanocins. Neplanocins A—D and E (37—41) are carbocycHc nucleoside antibiotic products oi Ampullariella regularis (1,4) that are stmcturaHy related to (36) in that they contain either a cyclopentene or epoxy cyclopentane ring (121,122). The chemical syntheses of (37—41) and the 3-deazaneplanocins have been reported (123—126). Compound (37), which is converted to its 5 -triphosphate, has potent antitumor and antiviral activities (127—129). It strongly inhibits SAM in ceUs and vimses (128—131) and is converted to the 3 -keto derivative by A-adenosyUiomocysteine hydrolase (132,133). 

Amino-5-iodo-2, 5 -dideoxyuridine [56045-73-9] (13) C2H22IN2O4, was synthesized ia 1975 (27) and was found effective against herpes keratitis ia rabbits (28). This compound is markedly less cytotoxic than IdU, iadicating that it may have a safer and more specific mode of antiviral activity. A potential limitation of this group of nucleosides is their specificity, for they fail to inhibit all strains of herpes vimses. The specific antiviral activity of (13) is considered to be a result of the incorporation of the 5 -Ai-phosphate into both viral and host DNA in infected cells, but not into the DNA of normal cells. Phosphorylation of (13) occurs only in herpes vims-infected cells, brought about by a vims-induced thymidine kinase (29). 

Although the term nucleoside was once limited to the compounds in Table 28.2 and a few others, cunent use is more permissive. Pyrimidine derivatives of D-arabinose, for exfflnple, occur in the free state in certain sponges and are called spongonticleosides. The powerful antiviral drug ribavirin, used to treat hepatitis C and Lassa fever, is a synthetic nucleoside analog in which the base, rather than being a pyrimidine or purine, is a triazole. 

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