Nucleotides. Part XLIV. Synthesis, characterization, and biological activity of monomeric and trimeric cordycepin-cholesterol conjugates and inhibition of HIV-1 replication

✍ Scribed by Marita Wasner; Wolfgang Pfleiderer; Earl E. Henderson; Robert J. Suhadolnik

• Book ID: 102858661
• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: German
• Weight: 780 KB
• Volume: 77
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0018-019X
• DOI: 10.1002/hlca.19940770707

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The antivirally active 3′‐deoxyadenylyl‐(2′–5′)‐3′‐deoxyadenylyl‐(2′–5′)‐3′‐deoxyadenosine (cordycepin trimer core) was modified at the 2′‐ or 5′‐terminus, by attachment of cholesterol via a carbonate bond (→ 15) or a succinate linker (→ 16 and 27) to improve cell permeability. The corresponding monomeric conjugates 4, 7, and 21 of cordycepin were prepared as model substances to study the applicability of the anticipated protecting groups – the monomethoxytrityl (MeOTr), the (tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl (tbds), and the β ‐eliminating 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) groups – for the final deblocking steps without harming the ester bonds of the conjugate trimers. The syntheses were performed in solution using phosphoramidite chemistry. The fully protected trimer conjugates 13, 14, and 26 as well as all intermediates were characterized by elemental analyses, UV and ^1^H‐NMR spectra. The deblocked conjugates 15, 16, and 27 were pure according to HPLC and showed the correct compositions by mass spectra. Comparative biological studies indicated that cordycepincholesterol conjugate trimers 16 and 27 were 333‐ and 1000‐fold, respectively, more potent inhibitors of HIV‐1‐induced syncytia formation than cordycepin trimer core.