Synthesis and biological evaluation of purine 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyriboside ProTides as anti-influenza virus agents.

2'-Fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine has been reported to have potent anti-influenza virus activity in vitro and in vivo. Herein we describe the synthesis and biological evaluation of 6-modified 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine analogues and their corresponding phosphoramidate ProTides as potential anti-influenza virus agents. Whereas the parent nucleosides were devoid of antiviral activity in two different cellular assays, the 5'-O-naphthyl(methoxy-L-alaninyl) ProTide derivatives of 6-O-methyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine, 6-O-ethyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine, and 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-6-chloroguanosine, and the 5'-O-naphthyl(ethoxy-L-alaninyl) ProTide of 6-O-ethyl-2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine displayed antiviral EC(99) values of ~12 μM. The antiviral results are supported by metabolism studies. Rapid conversion into the L-alaninyl metabolite and then 6-modified 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate was observed in enzymatic assays with yeast carboxypeptidase Y or crude cell lysate. Evidence for efficient removal of the 6-substituent on the guanine part was provided by enzymatic studies with adenosine deaminase, and by molecular modeling of the nucleoside 5'-monophosphates in the catalytic site of a model of ADAL1, thus indicating the utility of the double prodrug concept.