Synthesis of influenza neuraminidase inhibitors.

Influenza neuraminidase inhibitors provide a means to combat flu, a potentially very serious disease. For the first time, there is a way to treat influenza by blocking the influenza enzyme neuraminidase to stop or slow the progression of infection. The diverse structures and synthesis of several influenza neuraminidase inhibitors are discussed. Contributions from chemical process development groups are highlighted for those compounds that have reached the market, such as zanamivir and oseltamivir phosphate.