5-Bromo (or chloro)-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-2′-deoxyuridine and -thymidine derivatives with potent antiviral activity

Synthesis, antiviral, and cytotoxic activities of 5-bromo (or chloro)-6-azido-5,6-dihydro-2′-deoxyuridine (4,5) and -thymidine (6,7) are reported. Compounds 4 and 5 exhibited a broad spectrum of antiherpes activity against (HSV-1, HSV-2, HCMV, and VZV).