Design and synthesis of lipophilic phosphoramidate d4T-MP prodrugs expressing high potency against HIV in cell culture: structural determinants for in vitro activity and QSAR.

A series of new substituted-aryl phosphoramidate derivatives of the anti-HIV drug d4T were synthesized as membrane-soluble nucleotide prodrugs, to extend and quantify the SAR observed for an earlier series of related derivatives. All of the compounds were found to be significantly more potent against HIV in cell culture than the nucleoside analogue d4T, and most were also found to be significantly more potent than the parent phosphoramidate. A Hansch type QSAR analysis was applied to the combined series of 21 compounds. The results of this analysis revealed anti-HIV activity to be principally dependent on lipophilicity in a quadratic manner, with terms representing substituent steric bulk and electronic effects having a minimal significance.