Efficient electrophilic fluorination for the synthesis of novel 2'-fluoro-3'-methyl-5'-deoxyphosphonic acid apiosyl nucleoside analogues.

Novel 5'-deoxyapiosyl purine phosphonic acid analogues with a 2'-electropositive moiety, such as, a fluorine atom were designed and synthesized from commercially available hydroxylacetone. Condensation of a glycosyl donor 10 with purines under Vorbruggen conditions and cross-metathesis give the desired nucleoside phosphonic acid analogues 14, 17, 21, and 24. The synthesized nucleoside analogues were subjected to antiviral screening against HIV-1, and the adenine analogue 17 exhibited weak in vitro anti-HIV-1 activity (EC50=26.6 μM).