Synthetic Nucleosides and Nucleotides. XVI. Synthesis and Biological Evaluations of a Series of 1-β-D-Arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-Alkyl or Arylphosphates

Abstract

Enzymatic selective dephosphorylation of 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 3', 5'-diphosphate (1) with nuclease-3'-nucleotidase P₁ at 60° for 24 hr gave 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-phosphate (Ara CMP) (2) in good yield. The acylation of both N₄- and the 2', 3'-hydroxyl groups of 2 followed by coupling with various alcohols and phenols in the presence of 2, 4, 6-triisopropylbenzenesulfonyl chloride and subsequent alkaline hydrolysis afforded the title compounds (4). The resulting 32 kinds of Ara CMP alkyl or aryl esters were examined to determine their biological activities, such as antiviral activity against herpes simplex type 1 in cultured human embryonic lung fibroblast cells, growth inhibitory activity against mouse leukemic L5178Y cells in culture and antileukemic activity against L-1210 in mice. Ara CMP esters were active in these assay systems.