Synthesis and antiviral activity of novel N-substituted derivatives of acyclovir

Novel N-substituted derivatives of acyclovir (1a) were synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral, antimetabolic, and antitumor cell properties in vitro. Monomethylation of 1a at positions 1, 7, and N-2 gave compounds 2-4, respectively. When positions 1 and N-2 were linked together by an isopropeno group, the tricyclic 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]-1,N-2-isopropenoguanine (5) was obtained. Compound 5 was then further methylated at positions N-2 and 7 to give 6 and 7, respectively. None of the new acyclovir derivatives showed any appreciable antimetabolic or antitumor cell activity. However, compounds 2 and 5 exhibited a marked antiherpetic activity. Their activity spectrum was similar to that of acyclovir, and their selectivity as inhibitors of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) was at least as great as, if not greater than, that of acyclovir.