Bicyclic furo pyrimidine nucleosides with aryloxyphenyl and halophenyl substituted side chains as potent and selective varicella-zoster virus inhibitors.

The discovery of potent and selective inhibitors of VZV based on unusual bicyclic alkyl furo pyrimidine nucleosides has been recently reported. Modifications to the side-chain by addition of a phenyl group were found to further enhance the antiviral potency of these compounds. A series of alkoxyphenyl compounds (5a–5g) and two halophenyl derivatives (5h and 5i) were successfully synthesised and displayed anti-VZV activity at low μM concentrations.