Synthesis and Cytostatic and Antiviral Profiling of Thieno-Fused 7-Deazapurine Ribonucleosides.

Two isomeric series of new thieno-fused 7-deazapurine ribonucleosides (derived from 4-substituted thieno[2',3':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines and thieno[3',2':4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines) were synthesized by a sequence involving Negishi coupling of 4,6-dichloropyrimidine with iodothiophenes, nucleophilic azidation, and cyclization of tetrazolopyrimidines, followed by glycosylation and cross-couplings or nucleophilic substitutions at position 4. Most nucleosides (from both isomeric series) exerted low micromolar or submicromolar in vitro cytostatic activities against a broad panel of cancer and leukemia cell lines and some antiviral activity against HCV. The most active were the 6-methoxy, 6-methylsulfanyl, and 6-methyl derivatives, which were highly active to cancer cells and less toxic or nontoxic to fibroblasts.