Synthesis and HCV inhibitory properties of 9-deaza- and 7,9-dideaza-7-oxa-2'-C-methyladenosine

Bioorg Med Chem. 2007 Aug 1;15(15):5219-29. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2007.05.020. Epub 2007 May 22.

Abstract

As a part of an ongoing medicinal chemistry effort to identify inhibitors of the Hepatitis C Virus RNA replication, we report here the synthesis and biological evaluation of 9-deaza- and 7,9-dideaza-7-oxa-2'-C-methyladenosine. The parent 2'-C-methyladenosine shows excellent intracellular inhibitory activity but poor pharmacokinetic profile. Replacement of the nucleoside-defining 9-N of 2'-C-methyladenosine with a carbon atom was designed to yield metabolically more stable C-nucleosides. Modifications at position 7 were designed to exploit the importance of the hydrogen bond accepting properties of this heteroatom in modulating the adenosine deaminase (ADA) mediated 6-N deamination. 7-Oxa-7,9-dideaza-2'-C-methyladenosine was found to be a moderately active inhibitor of intracellular HCV RNA replication, whereas 9-deaza- 2'-C-methyladenosine showed only weak activity despite excellent overlap of both of the synthesized target compounds with 2'-C-methyladenosine's three dimensional structure. Position 7 of the nucleobase proved to be an effective handle for modulating ADA-mediated degradation, with the rate of degradation correlating with the hydrogen-bonding properties at this position.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adenosine / chemistry
  • Adenosine / pharmacology*
  • Antiviral Agents / chemistry*
  • Antiviral Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line
  • Hepacivirus / drug effects*
  • Hepacivirus / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • 7,9-dideaza-7-oxa-2'-C-methyladenosine
  • Antiviral Agents
  • RNA, Viral
  • Adenosine