Synthesis and anti-HIV evaluation of 2',3'-dideoxy imidazo- and nu-triazolo[4,5-d]pyridazine nucleosides

The syntheses of the 2'-deoxy and 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides of 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine and the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside of 2-aza-3-deazainosine were achieved and the pathways leading to these novel nucleosides are described. The preparation of the 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (1) of 2-aza-3-deazainosine involved deoxygenation of the 2'-deoxy-3'-imidazolide intermediate with n-Bu3SnH and AlBN. The latter nucleoside was synthesized from the known 2'-deoxy derivative of 2-aza-3-deazainosine. The three-step synthesis of 1 from the 2'-deoxy analogue was accomplished in 40% overall yield. Rather than synthesize the corresponding 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside (2) of 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine in the same manner, i.e. deoxygenation of the 2'-deoxynucleoside, a more cost-effective route was chosen. This pathway involved reductive cleavage of the 5'-protected, 2',3'-thiocarbonate derivative to furnish a mixture of the 2'- and 3'-deoxy isomers. This mixture was not separated, but was deoxygenated by the aforementioned imidazolide method. Using this methodology, 2 was prepared in 23% overall yield from 2,8-diaza-3-deazainosine. Nucleosides 1 and 2 were evaluated for antiretroviral activity and were found to be inactive.