A series of beta -D-2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-nucleosides bearing a tet
her attached at the C-5 position and their beta -L-counterparts was synthes
ized. Their inhibitory activities against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV
) were investigated and compared to establish relationship(s) between compo
und structure and their antiviral activity. No significant activity was obs
erved for beta -D- and beta -L-modified nucleosides respectively 7a-c and 1
4a-c, but 7d and 14d exhibited a weak activity against HIV-1.