Structure of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine and electronic charge calculations for 3'-deoxythymidines.

The crystal and molecular structures of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus agent 3'-fluoro-3'-deoxythymidine have been determined by x-ray diffraction and stereochemical comparisons with thymidine have been made. Atomic charge distributions have been calculated by the complete neglect of differential overlap method for thymidine and antiretrovirally active and inactive C3'-substituted analogues. The structural and electronic results suggest that antiviral activity in these analogues may be correlated with the presence of an electronegative atom attached to C3'.