Pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides. 1-[(2-Hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrimidines as candidate antivirals

Abstract

A number of pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides were synthesized and tested for activity against herpes simplex virus type 1. Synthesis of 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]cytosine (8) and 1-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]uracil (14) was accomplished in 2 or 3 steps from 2,4-diethoxypyrimidine and 2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxymethyl chloride. The 5-methyl (20), 5-(trifluoromethyl) (21) and 5-fluoro (22) analogs of 14 were available in 2 steps from the appropriate bis(trimethylsilyl)ated 5-substituted uracil and 2-(acetoxymethoxy)ethyl acetate or 2-(benzoyloxy)ethoxymethyl chloride. Bromination of 8 and 14 or iodination of 14 gave the 5-halogeno-1[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]pyrimidines 9, 23 and 24. These pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides exhibited little or no activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 or against a range of other DNA and RNA viruses. This is compatible with their lack of substrate properties toward herpes simplex virus induced thymidine kinase.