Synthesis, Biological Activity and Decomposition Studies of Amino Acid Phosphomonoester Amidates of Acyclovir

Abstract

Highly stable and water soluble amino acid phosphomonoester amidates of acyclovir (ACV) were synthesized and shown to function predominantly as prodrugs of AC V and not acyclovir monophosphate (AC V-MP) with activities within two fold of the amino acid prodrug of ACV, valaciclovir (VACV). Metabolism studies revealed that incubation of cell-free extracts of Vero cells with the L-leucine phosphomonoester amidate of ACV (3c), resulted in a burst of ACV-MP production followed by the rapid generation of ACV.