Herpes-1 virus, adenine nucleoside

Adenine nucleosides from 145 (Ref. 287) and 85 (R = CH2OH, R1 = R2 = H),405 and l-[3-deoxy-3-fluoro-3-C-(hydroxymethyI)-a,/ -D-xylo-furanosyl]uracil,412 were also synthesized. The last two showed no activity versus herpes-1 (HF) virus or L-1210 cells. 

Vidarabine [vye DARE a been] arabinofuranosyl adenine, ara-A, adenine arabinoside) is one of the most effective of the nucleoside analogs and is also the least toxic. However, it has been supplanted clinically by acyclovir, which is more efficacious and safe. Although vidarabine is active against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), HSV-2, and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), its use is limited to treatment of immunocompromised patients with herpes simplex keratitis or encephalitis, or VZV infections. Vidarabine, an adenosine analog, is converted in the cell to its 5 -triphosphate analog (ara-ATP), which is postulated to inhibit viral DNA synthesis. Some resistant herpes virus... 

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