New Benzimidazole 3'-Deoxynucleosides: Synthesis and Antiherpes Virus Properties.

A series of new 3'-deoxyribosides of substituted benzimidazoles was obtained by the chemo-enzymatic method using genetically engineered purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP). In the case of asymmetrically substituted benzimidazole derivatives, a mixture of N1- and N3-regioisomers was formed (confirmed by NMR). The antiviral activity of the obtained compounds against herpes simplex virus 1 of reference strain L2 and a strain deeply resistant to acyclovir in Vero E6 cell culture was studied.