CARBOCYCLIC OXETANOCINS LACKING THE C-3' METHYLENE

Using the observation that the side effects of aristeromycin (carbocyc lic adenosine) were reduced by removing the methylene at the center in aristeromycin where phosphorylation occurs, derivatives of carbocycli c oxetanocin A (4a), oxetanocin G (4b), and 2-aminooxetanocin A (16) l acking the 3'-methylene have been prepared in racemic form. The only v iruses for which an appreciable inhibitory effect of the compounds (mi nimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 1 to 40 mu g/mL) was noted were herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and varicella-zoster virus ( VZV). However, when directly compared for their antiviral potency agai nst HSV-1 with their parents oxetanocin A and oxetanocin G, compounds 4a and 4b proved clearly less active.