Synthesis of 2‘-Aminomethyl Derivatives of <i>N</i>-(2-(Phosphonomethoxy)ethyl) Nucleotide Analogues as Potential Antiviral Agents

A series of purine and pyrimidine N-(2-(phosphonomethoxy)ethyl) derivatives bearing aminomethyl, (dimethylamino)methyl, morpholinomethyl, and (trimethylammonio)methyl groups at the 2'-position were synthesized. The compounds were prepared by alkylation of the heterocyclic bases with appropriately substituted (aminoalkyl)oxiranes followed by condensation of the resulting intermediates with dialkyl ((p-tolylsulfonyl)oxy)methanephosphonate and subsequent treatment of the obtained diester with bromotrimethylsilane. 9-(3-Amino-2-(phosphonomethoxy)propyl)adenine (2a) proved active against varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Moloney murine sarcoma virus (MSV) in the concentration range of 7-35 micrograms/mL. None of the other aminoalkyl derivatives demonstrated significant antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2), VZV, (CMV), vaccinia virus (VV), MSV, and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2 (HIV-1 and HIV-2).