Abstract
The synthesis of a new prodrug system for antiviral nucleosides AZT (1) and ddT (2) based on α-hydroxybenzylphosphonates 3 is described. 3 hydrolyze via different mechanisms yielding the H-phosphonate monoesters 4 or nucleoside monophosphates 5, respectively. 3 were more lipophilic than 1, 2 and showed marked activity against HIV-1/2.