Stereospecific synthesis and biological evaluations of beta-L-pentofuranonucleoside derivatives of 5-fluorouracil and 5-fluorocytosine

In the search for new chemotherapeutic agents, we have focused our work on the synthesis and the study of several unnatural beta -L-nucleoside analogu es. In this paper, we report on the synthesis Of beta -L-pentofuranonucleos ides (and their 2 ' -deoxy derivatives) of 5-fluorouracil and their inhibit ory effects on the proliferation of several murine and human tumor cells. T he corresponding 5-fluorocytosine derivatives were also synthesized and the ir anti-HIV and anti-HBV activities have been evaluated. (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.