Synthesis and antiviral activity of water-soluble esters of acyclovir [9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine].

Several water-soluble ester derivatives of acyclovir [9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]guanine], i.e., the 2'-O-glycyl-, 2'-O-alpha-alanyl-, 2'-O-beta-alanyl- and 2'-O-3-carboxypropionyl esters, were synthesized and evaluated for their antiviral activity in cell culture. The compounds were all prepared directly from acyclovir by application of the usual esterification methods with the appropriate acyl precursors and isolated as their hydrochloride or sodium salts. When assayed in primary rabbit kidney cell cultures against various herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 strains, the four acyclovir esters proved almost as active as acyclovir itself, suggesting that they were readily hydrolyzed to release the parent compound.