3′-Substituted Thymine α-L-nucleoside Derivatives as Potential Antiviral Agents: Synthesis and Biological Evaluation

Hitherto unknown 1-(3-deoxy-3-substituted-α-L-lyxofuranosyl)thymines and their 2-deoxy derivatives related to azidothymidine (AZT) and its congeners have been synthesized and their antiviral properties examined. They were prepared by nucleophilic substitution with inversion of configuration from 3′-O-trifluoromethanesulphonate α-L-arabinofuranonucleosides and their 2′-deoxy derivatives. All the prepared compounds were tested for their activity against a variety of RNA and DNA viruses, but they did not show significant antiviral activity.