The synthesis of nucleoside 5'-O-(1,1-dithiotriphosphates).

Appropriately protected nucleoside 5'-O-(2-thio-1,3,2-dithiaphospholanes) react with inorganic pyrophosphate in the presence of a strong base catalyst (DBU) to give nucleoside 5'-O-(1,1-dithiotriphosphates) 1a-g. The latter compounds, including an AZT analogue, show modest antivirial activity against HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication in CEM cells. The AZT and deoxyadenosine derivatives were found to be inhibitors of HIV reverse transcriptase.