Resolution of racemic carbovir and selective inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus by the (-) enantiomer.

(+-) Carbocyclic 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (Carbovir; NSC 614846) is an antiretroviral agent which is undergoing preclinical evaluation for the treatment of AIDS. Racemic carbovir was separated into its D and L enantiomers by the action of adenosine deaminase on the 2,6-diaminopurine precursor. Subsequent evaluation of the enantiomers against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 revealed that the antiviral activity of carbovir resides in the (-) isomer that is analogous to the nucleoside, beta-D-2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxyguanosine.