Synthesis of novel 2'-methyl carbovir analogues as potent antiviral agents.

In this study, the synthesis procedures of 2'-branched carbovir analogues were accomplished. The introduction of a methyl group in the requisite 2'-position was carried out by the addition of a carbonyl using isopropenyl magnesium bromide. The desired compound, cyclopentenol 10(beta), was synthesized via ring-closing metathesis using a second-generation Grubbs' catalyst. The nucleosidic bases (adenine, cytosine, thymine, uracil, 5-fluorouracil and 5-iodouracil) were efficiently coupled using a Pd (0) catalyst. When the synthesized compounds were examined for their activity against several viruses, including HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2 and HCMV, the 5-iodouracil analogue, 23, exhibited significant anti-HCMV activity.