Unnatural β-L-Enantiomers of Nucleoside Analogues as Potent Anti-Hepatitis B Virus Agents

Abstract

Several 2′- or 3′-substituted 2′,3′-dideoxy-β-L-nucleosides bearing adenine as the base were stereospecifically synthesized and their antiviral properties examined. Two of them, namely 2′-azido- and 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxy-β-L-adenosine (2′-N₃-₋β-L-ddA and 3′-N₃-₋β-L-ddA) were found to have some anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity in cell culture.