Synthesis and antiviral activity of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′-C-methyl purine nucleosides as inhibitors of hepatitis C virus RNA replication

Abstract A series of purine nucleosides containing the 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-2′- C -methylribofuranosyl moiety were synthesized and evaluated as potential inhibitors of the hepatitis C virus in vitro. Of the nucleosides that were synthesized, only those possessing a 2-amino group on the purine base reduced the levels of HCV RNA in a subgenomic replicon assay.