Abstract: 1,5-Anhydrohexitol nucleoside analogues represented by the general formula I: ##STR1## wherein the hexitol has the D-configuration and the carbon atom on which the base moiety and the X substituent stand both have the (S)-configuration and further wherein:B is a heterocyclic ring selected from the group consisting of pyrimidine and purine bases; andX is hydrogen, azido, F, Cl, Br, I, amino, --NHR.sup.2, --N(R.sup.2).sub.2, --OR.sup.2, --SR.sup.2, or CN; wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are the same or different and are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkenyl, aroyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.20 alkanoyl, and phosphoryl.These nucleoside analogues are useful as antiviral agents against herpes simplex virus, vaccina virus, or varicella zoster virus. The definition of the X group should include --N(R.sup.2).sub.2 instead of --N(N.sup.2).sub.2.