Synthesis and in vitro antiviral activities of [(dihydrofuran-2-yl)oxy]methyl-phosphonate nucleosides with 2-substituted adenine as base.

The synthesis of [(2',5'-dihydrofuran-2-yl)oxy]methyl-phosphonate nucleosides with a 2-substituted adenine base moiety starting from 2-deoxy-3,5-bis-O-(4-methylbenzoyl)-α-L-ribofuranosyl chloride and 2,6-dichloropurine is described. The key step is the regiospecific and stereoselective introduction of a phosphonate synthon at C(2) of the furan ring. None of the synthesized compounds showed significant in vitro activity against HIV, BVDV, and HBV.