Synthesis and anti-HCV activity of 2',5'-deoxy-5'-phenacyladenosine analogs.

Several nucleoside analogs containing a methylene group instead of a 5'-O atom were synthesized to study the effect of the 5'-modification of nucleoside analogs on their anti-HCV activity. Among the analogs, a 5'-phenacyl analog exhibited good anti-HCV activity with an EC(50) of 15.1 muM. This compound is hypothesized to function via a novel type of mechanism that does not involve the conventional 5'-O-triphosphorylation process.