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2-(2-Pyridine)-1-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-phenyl-1-methylethanol (I), containing tritium uniformly distributed in the 2-phenyl ring, was synthesized in two steps with tritiated benzene as the labelled starting material. An improved procedure was employed for the coupling of m-chloroacetophenone and 2-benzylpyridine. The higher melting of two enantiomeric pairs, known for its hypocholesteremic activity in rats, was isolated and found to have a chemical purity of >95% and a specific activity of 0.11 mCi/mmole.

SummaryTritium-labeled diphenhydramine given iv to rhesus monkeys produced a rapid drop in plasma levels of unchanged drug, but the total tritium activity rose slowly over a 4-hr period to levels severalfold greater than those observed 1 min after dosing. This was attributed to rapid removal of drug by the tissues, followed by a slow return of metabolites to the plasma. The major metabolite, strongly bound to plasma protein, was identified as diphenylmethoxyacetic acid. Similar observations were made in the dog, rabbit, guinea pig, and mouse; but not in the rat, which did not form diphenylmethoxyacetic acid. Species differences were noted in the conjugation of this metabolite with glutamine in the monkey, and with glycine in the dog.

The neplanocin A analogs, 3-deazaneplanocin A, 9-(trans-2',trans-3'-dihydroxycyclopent-4'-enyl)adenine (DHCA), and 9-(trans-2',trans-3'-dihydroxycyclopent-4'-enyl)-3-deazaadenine (DHCDA), all potent inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase, were studied for their broad-spectrum antiviral potential. 3-Deazaneplanocin A, DHCA, and DHCDA proved specifically effective against vesicular stomatitis virus, vaccinia virus, parainfluenza virus, reovirus, and rotavirus. Their selectivity was greater than that of neplanocin A, particularly against vesicular stomatitis virus and rotavirus. As could be expected from adenosine analogs that are directly targeted at AdoHcy hydrolase, 3-deazaneplanocin A, DHCA, and DHCDA were fully active in adenosine kinase-deficient cells, implying that their activity did not depend on phosphorylation by adenosine kinase. None of the AdoHcy hydrolase inhibitors showed selective activity against human immunodeficiency virus (type 1). 3-Deazaneplanocin A at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg per day conferred marked protection against a lethal infection of newborn mice with vesicular stomatitis virus.

The metabolism of 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine (ara-A, vidarabine) and its effects on DNA synthesis were compared in uninfected and herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1)-infected KB cells. In the absence of an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase, ara-A was deaminated to 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosylhypoxanthine and phosphorylated to ara-A-5'-mono-, di- and triphosphates in both types of cells. When an inhibitor of adenosine deaminase (coformycin) was added to cell cultures, nucleotides were the only metabolites detected--primarily the 5'-triphosphate of ara-A (aATP). Detailed studies performed in the presence of coformycin established that the net rate and extent of aATP formation were the same in uninfected and HSV-1-infected cells. After a 12-hr exposure to 50 microM ara-A, intracellular concentrations of aATP were approximately 40 microM. Levels of aATP correlated directly with inhibition of total DNA synthesis. Approximately 0.7 microM aATP was required for 50% inhibition of total DNA synthesis in both uninfected and HSV-1-infected cells. Following removal of ara-A-containing culture medium, aATP levels in uninfected cells declined with a half-life of 3.2 hr. In marked contrast, the half-life in HSV-1-infected cells was 9.3 hr; this may explain why as little as a 3-hr exposure to ara-A resulted in a significant HSV-1 titer reduction. Taken together, the data show that when ara-A was removed from culture medium, levels of aATP persisted longer in HSV-1-infected cells thereby prolonging antiviral activity. This effect could be important in vivo where levels of ara-A oscillate with dosing schedule.