SYNTHESIS OF N3,5′-CYCLO-4-(β-D-RIBOFURANOSYL)-VIC-TRIAZOLO[4,5-b]PYRIDIN-5-ONE AND ITS 3′-DEOXYSUGAR ANALOGUE AS POTENTIAL ANTI-HEPATITIS C VIRUS AGENTS

We recently discovered a novel compound, identified as N³,5′-cyclo-4-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-vic-triazolo4,5-b]pyridinin-5-one, with anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) activity in vitro. The structure was confirmed by chemical synthesis from 2-hydroxy-5-nitropyridine. It showed anti-HCV activity with EC₅₀=19.7 μM in replicon cells. Its 3′-deoxy sugar analogue was also synthesized, but was inactive against HCV in vitro.