NEW ACYCLIC NUCLEOSIDE ANALOGS - STEREOSPECIFIC SYNTHESIS OF PURINES AND PYRIMIDINES SUBSTITUTED WITH CHIRAL CHAINS BY SUGAR-RING OPENING OF BETA-D-GALACTOPYRANOSYL NUCLEOSIDES

2',3'- and 3',4'-Seco-nucleosides, retaining the carbon framework of b eta-D-ribofuranosyl nucleosides but having a hydroxymethyl substituent on the 4' or 5' position, have been synthesized and their antiviral p roperties examined. These hitherto unknown chiral acyclic nucleosides were stereospecifically prepared by ring opening of beta-D-galactopyra nosyl nucleosides by means of periodate oxidation followed by borohydr ide reduction. None of the prepared compounds showed marked antiviral effect against a variety of DNA and RNA viruses.