Abstract: Methods and novel intermediates for the preparation of acyclic nucleoside derivatives of the formula: 1

Abstract: Methods and novel intermediates of the formula: wherein R6 and R7 are lower alkyl or benzyl or R6 and R7 taken together are —CH2CH2—, —CH2CH2CH2— or —CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2—, R8 is C1-C21 alkyl or a C2-C21 monounsaturated alkenyl, which may optionally be substituted with substitution substituents independently selected from the group consisting of hydroxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkoxy C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkanoyl, amino, halo, cyano, azido, oxo, mercapto and nitro, and R9 is an alcohol protecting group. The intermediates are useful for the preparation of acyclic nucleoside derivatives of the formula: where one of R1 and R2 is an amino acid acyl group and the other of R1 and R2 is a —C(O)C3-C21 saturated or monounsaturated, optionally substituted alkyl and R3 is OH or H; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: A process for preparing a compound of the structure I ##STR1## where A is oxygen and sulfur and R.sup.1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen, alkyl of one to six carbon atoms, alkoxy of one to six carbon atoms, and trifluoromethyl, and R.sup.2 is alkyl of one to four carbon atoms, comprising coupling a compound of formula II: ##STR2## where X is bromine or iodine, with an N-hydroxyurea compound of formula III: ##STR3## in the presence of a palladium catalyst followed by reaction of the product thus formed with an alkali metal isocyante.The compounds of formula I are inhibitors of the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase and are thus useful as therapeutic agents for the treatment of allergic and inflammatory disease conditions.