Synthesis and Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Carbocyclic Versions of Stavudine Analogues Using a Ring-closing Metathesis

Synthesis and Anti-HIV-1 Activity of Carbocyclic Versions of Stavudine Analogues Using a Ring-closing Metathesis

An efficient synthetic route for carbocyclic versions of stavudine analogues and their evaluation on antiviral activity are described. The construction of an ethynylated quaternary carbon at the 4'-position of carbocyclic nucleosides was accomplished using Claisen rearrangement of 11 and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) of dienyne 14 as key transformations. An antiviral evaluation of the synthesized compounds, 20, 21, 22, and 25 against HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, and HCMV showed that only the guanine analogue 25 is moderately active against HIV-1 in the MT-4 cell line ($EC_{50}$ = 11.91 $\mu$mol).