One-Pot Synthesis of 5′-Diaryl Esters and Diamidates of Phosphate, Phosphorothioate, and Phosphoroselenoate Derivatives of AZT and d4T

Abstract

Modified nucleosides such as 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxythymide (AZT) and 2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydrothymide (d4T) are of importance as antiviral agents and in other medicinal applications. Consequently, there is interest in new analogs of these compounds and in new methods for preparing them. In this article, a simple but efficient, one-pot synthesis of 5′-diaryl esters and diamidates of phosphate, phosphorothioate, and phosphoroselenoate derivatives of AZT and d4T is described. The reaction of AZT/d4T with phosphorus trichloride, followed with phenols, aniline, or amino acid methyl esters in the presence of a base, led to the corresponding tricoordinated phosphite compounds of AZT/d4T, which were then oxidized with 3-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA), sulfur, or selenium powder to finally afford the corresponding target compounds in good yield.