Synthesis of some new S-alkylated derivatives of 5-mercapto-2'-deoxyuridine as potential antiviral agents.

A series of S-alkylated derivatives of 5-mercapto-2'-deoxyuridine have been prepared by alkylation of the preformed nucleoside. Two of these compounds, the S-propargyl and S-allyl derivatives, have shown significant antiviral activity against Herpes simplex type 1 in HeLa TK- cells but appear to be less effective in this assay system than some previously reported 5-substituted 2'-deoxyuridines.