Synthesis of 2′,3′-Dideoxycyclopentenyl Carbocyclic Nucleosides as Potential Drugs for the Treatment of AIDS

Abstract

Abstract The recently discovered antiviral activity of 2′,3′-dideoxy-nucleosides against the AIDS virus in vitro prompted the synthesis of 2′,3′-dideoxycyclopentenyl adenine and cytosine. A sequence of two consecutive reductive deoxygenations using 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazole followed by reduction with tributyl tin hydride afforded the desired target compounds. Neither compound showed activity in the in vitro assay against the HTLV-III/LAV virus.