Drug targets in cytomegalovirus infection.

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infections are usually benign and self-limiting in the immunocompetent population; however, HCMV is a well-recognized problem among immunocompromised patients (in particular immunosuppressed patients with stem cell or solid organ transplantation, AIDS, or cancer). In this group of patients, HCMV infections are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Additionally, congenital HCMV infections are a leading cause of birth defects and infections in children, occurring in 1 to 2% of all live births.

Antiviral activity of 3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil derivatives against HIV-1 and HCMV.

Antiviral activity of 1,3-disubstituted uracil derivatives was evaluated against HIV-1 and HCMV. It appears that the nitrogen of the 1-cyanomethyl group is important for anti-HIV-1 activity, suggesting interaction with the amino acid residues of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. 1-Arylmethyl derivatives also exhibited good anti-HIV-1 activity; and that of the 2- and 4-picolyl derivatives was particularly excellent.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 1-substituted 3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil against HIV-1.

1,3-disubstituted uracils were obtained from uracil by the stepwise alkylation at N-1 and N-3 position with alkyl halide/alkali or alcohol under Mitsunobu conditions. The antiviral activity against HIV-1 of these compounds was examined to find that 1-cyanomethyl-3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil and 1-phenyl-3-(3,5-dimethyl-benzyl)uracil showed powerful inhibition.

Synthesis and anti-HIV-1 and anti-HCMV activity of 1-substituted 3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil derivatives.

3-(3,5-Dimethylbenzyl)uracil (3) was treated with alkyl halides in the presence of alkali to give 1-substituted congeners. Condensation of 3 with alcohols using the Mitsunobu reaction was also employed as an alternative method. The anti-HIV-1 activity of 1-substituted analogues of 3-(3,5-dimethylbenzyl)uracil was evaluated according to previously established procedures.

Synthesis and antiviral activity of 1,3-disubstituted uracils against HIV-1 and HCMV.

The development of new non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) is an efficient strategy for finding new therapeutic agents against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A large number of 6-substituted uracil derivatives have been prepared in order to explore new NNRTIs. However, there are few approaches to anti-HIV agents from 1,3-disubstituted uracil derivatives.

Halophenyl furanopyrimidines as potent and selective anti-VZV agents.

Bicyclic furano pyrimidines have been previously reported by us to be highly potent and selective inhibitors of varicella zoster virus (VZV). p-Alkyl phenyl analogues are particularly potent with EC50 values below 1 nM. In this article we report the synthesis and anti-VZV activity of a series of halophenyl analogues, with variation in the nature (F, Cl, Br) and location (o, m, p) of the halogen substituent.

Influence of 2-substituent on the activity of imidazo[1,2-a] pyridine derivatives against human cytomegalovirus.

The synthesis of various 2-substituted imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine bearing a thioether side chain in position 3 was reported. The new compounds were characterized by 1H and 13C NMR spectra. A conformational study was obtained by X-ray crystallographic analysis for 2-biphen-4-ylimidazopyridine 7.