Pyrimidine acyclic nucleosides. 5-Substituted 1-[(2-aminoethoxy)methyl]uracils as candidate antivirals

Abstract
Several 5-substituted analogues of the acyclic aminonucleoside 1-[(2-aminoethoxy)methyl]uracil (5) were prepared for evaluation as antivirals. The uracil and thymine analogues were prepared in 2 steps from N-[2-(chloromethoxy)ethyl]phthalimide (1). The 5-chloro, 5-bromo and 5-iodo analogues were prepared by halogenation of 5. These acyclic aminonucleosides exhibited neither cell toxicity nor antiviral activity. This is compatible with their lack of substrate properties toward herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase.