7 -oxo -4,7 -dihydrothieno [3,2 -b]pyridine -6 -carboxamides : Synthesis and biological activity of a new class of highly potent inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase

We report a new class of non-nucleoside antivirals, the 7-oxo-4,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-6-carboxamides, some of which possess remarkable potency versus a broad spectrum of herpesvirus DNA polymerases and excellent selectivity compared to human DNA polymerases. A critical factor in the level of activity is hypothesized to be conformational restriction of the key 2-aryl-2-hydroxyethylamine sidechain by an adjacent methyl group.