Nucleic acid related compounds. 74. Synthesis and biological activity of 2'(and 3')-deoxy-2'(and 3')-methylenenucleoside analogues that function as mechanism-based inhibitors of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase and/or ribonucleotide reductase.

Treatment of 2-amino-6-chloro-9-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)purine (21) with TBDMS chloride/imidazole/DMF gave a separable mixture of 5'-O, 2',5'-bis-O (22), 3',5'-bis-O (23), and 2',3',5'-tris-O-TBDMS derivatives. Oxidation of 22 and 23 with CrO3/pyridine/Ac2O, treatment of the respective ketonucleosides with methylenetriphenylphosphorane, and deprotection gave 2-amino-6-chloro-9-[3(and 2)-deoxy-3(and 2)-methylene- beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl]purines (28 and 37) that were converted into other 2-amino-6-substituted-purine analogues. Tubercidin was converted into 2'-deoxy-2'-methylenetubercidin (49) by an analogous route. Inactivation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase by 2'- and 3'-methyleneadenosine analogues was investigated. Mechanism-based inhibition of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine hydrolase and anticancer and antiviral activities of 2'(and 3')-deoxy-2'(and 3')-methylenenucleoside analogues are discussed.