β-l-1-[5-(E-2-bromovinyl)-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-(dioxolan-4-yl)] uracil (l-BHDU) prevents varicella-zoster virus replication in a SCID-Hu mouse model and does not interfere with 5-fluorouracil catabolism.

The alphaherpesvirus varicella-zoster virus (VZV) causes chickenpox and shingles. Current treatments are acyclovir (ACV) and its derivatives, foscarnet and brivudine (BVdU). Additional antiviral compounds with increased potency and specificity are needed to treat VZV, especially to treat post-herpetic neuralgia.

Chutes and ladders in hepatitis C nucleoside drug development.

Chutes and Ladders is an exciting up-and-down-again game in which players race to be the first to the top of the board. Along the way, they will find ladders to help them advance, and chutes that will cause them to move backwards. The development of nucleoside analogs for clinical treatment of hepatitis C presents a similar scenario in which taking shortcuts may help quickly advance a program, but there is always a tremendous risk of being sent backwards as one competes for the finish line.

Synthesis and evaluation of non-dimeric HCV NS5A inhibitors.

Based on the symmetrical bidentate structure of the NS5A inhibitor BMS-790052, a series of new monodentate molecules were designed. The synthesis of 36 new non-dimeric NS5A inhibitors is reported along with their ability to block HCV replication in an HCV 1b replicon system. Among them compound 5a showed picomolar range activity along with an excellent selectivity index (SI > 90,000).

2'-Fluoro-6'-methylene-carbocyclic adenosine phosphoramidate (FMCAP) prodrug: in vitro anti-HBV activity against the lamivudine-entecavir resistant triple mutant and its mechanism of action.

Novel 2'-fluoro-6'-methylene-carbocyclic adenosine (FMCA) monophosphate prodrug (FMCAP) was synthesized and evaluated for its in vitro anti-HBV potency against a lamivudine-entecavir resistant clone (L180M+M204V+S202G). FMCA demonstrated significant antiviral activity against wild-type as well as lamivudine-entecavir resistant triple mutant (L180M+M204V+S202G). The monophosphate prodrug (FMCAP) demonstrated greater than 12-fold (12×) increase in anti-HBV activity without increased cellular toxicity.

[2-(4-Chloro-phen-yl)-5-phenyl-oxolan-3-yl](cyclo-penten-yl)methanone.

In the title compound, C(22)H(21)ClO(2), the oxolane ring adopts a twisted conformation. The dihedral angles between the mean plane of the oxolane ring and the mean planes of the 4-chloro-phenyl, phenyl and cyclo-pentenyl rings are 71.81 (18), 76.

Stereocontrolled synthesis of oxaspirobicycles via Prins-pinacol annulation.

We have developed the stereoselective synthesis of 2-oxaspiro[m,n]alkane derivatives using the Prins-pinacol annulation of alkene diols with a wide range of aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes and ketones. This approach was further applied for the synthesis of oxatricyclic ring system.

Intermolecular double Prins-type cyclization: a facile and efficient synthesis of 1,6-dioxecanes.

Double or nothing: The title reaction converts a range of aromatic aldehydes and allenylmethyl/allyl silanes into 1,6-dioxecane derivatives in good to excellent yields (see scheme; Ar = aryl, Tf = triflate, THF = tetrahydrofuran, TMS = trimethylsilyl). In addition, the bisdiene product has been transformed into the corresponding tricyclic compound through a Diels-Alder reaction.

5- And 6-exocyclic products, cis-2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans, and cis-2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans via Prins-type cyclization.

Exocyclic products having cis-2,5 and cis-2,6 substitution were synthesized from terminally substituted alkynyl alcohols with various aldehydes via Prins-type cyclization in good yields. It is of interest that synthesized 5- and 6-exocyclic vinyl cations generated as a result of Prins-type cyclization could be trapped as a vinyl triflate in CH2Cl2 to give 3-furanylidenes and 3-pyranylidenes. Those 3-furanylidenes and 3-pyranylidenes underwent hydrolysis to give the corresponding 3-acyl-substituted products having all-cis-configured isomers, such as 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans and 2,3,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans.

5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans via Prins-type cyclization.

[reaction: see text] 5-Exocyclic products, 2,3,5-trisubstituted tetrahydrofurans, were synthesized from homopropargylic alcohols with terminally substituted alkynes and various aldehydes via Prins-type cyclization. It is of interest that the exocyclic vinyl cation generated as a result of Prins-type cyclization could be trapped as a vinyl triflate when CH2Cl2 was used as a solvent, whereas in ethereal solution the vinyl cation underwent hydrolysis to give the corresponding ketone product.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of 2,5-disubstituted 3-vinylidene tetetrahydrofurans via Prins-type cyclization.

[reaction: see text]. A novel synthetic methodology for 2,5-disubstituted tetrahydrofurans having an allenyl group at the 3-position via Prins-type cyclization was developed. The reaction led to excellent selectivity and moderate to high yields.