Synthesis of Acyclic Nucleoside and Nucleotide Analogues from Amino Acids: A Convenient Approach to a PMEA–PMPA Hybrid

Nonracemic amino alcohols derived from common amino acids have been used to assemble acyclic nucleoside and nucleotide analogues with control of absolute stereochemistry. Both (R)- and (S)-2-amino-1-propanol, readily available from d- or l-alanine, were used to prepare the nucleoside analogues (R)- and (S)-9-[1-methyl-2-hydroxyethyl]adenine, and then the nucleotide analogues (R)- and (S)-9-[1-methyl-2-phosphonomethoxyethyl]adenine. In a similar fashion, the CBz derivative of l-threonine was used to prepare first (1R,2R)-9-[1-hydroxymethyl-2-hydroxypropyl]adenine, and then the bis phosphonomethoxy derivative. The bis phosphonate derived from threonine represents a unique structural hybrid of PMEA and PMPA, both of which have well established antiviral activity.