Synthesis and evaluation of anti-HSV activity of new 5-alkynyl-2'-deoxyuridines.

Eight 5-alkynyl-2'deoxyuridines containing different bulky substituents have been prepared and tested against HSV-1 in Vero cells. The compounds show positive antiviral activity. There is no obvious correlation between activity and substituent size. The nature of the linker between uracil and a substituent appears to be more important for antiviral properties: nucleosides containing arylethynyl groups show higher activity.