Synthesis and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of 3′-C-substituted-methyl pyrimidine and purine nucleosides Original Research Article

On the basis of potent anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity of 2′-C-hydroxymethyladenosine, 3′-C-substituted-methyl-ribofuranosyl pyrimidine and purine nucleosides were designed and synthesized from d-xylose. Among compounds tested, all adenine analogues, 4a, 4d, and 4g showed significant anti-HCV activity in a replicon-based cell assay irrespective of the substituent (Y = OH, N3, or F) at the 3′-C-substituted methyl position, among which 4g (Y = N3) was the most potent, but it is also cytotoxic. This study guarantees the 3′-C-substituted-methyl nucleoside serves as a new template for the development of new anti-HCV agents.