Synthesis and antiviral activity of certain 4-substituted and 2,4-disubstituted 7-((2-hydroxyethoxy)-methyl)pyrrolo(2,3-d)pyrimidines

Treatment of the sodium salt of 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)pyrrolo(2,3-d)pyrimidine with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl bromide has provided 4-chloro-2-(methylthio)-7-((2-acetoxyethoxy)-methyl)pyrrolo(2,3-d) pyrimidine (4). In tests involving human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), only slight activity and cytotoxicity were observed. The most active compounds were slightly more active against HCMV than acyclovir, but both compounds were inactive against HSV-1. The activity against HCMV, however, was not well separated from cytotoxicity leading to the conclusion that these compounds did not merit further study.