Studies on the mechanism of antiviral action of 1-(.beta.-D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxamide (ribavirin)

Syntheses are described for the 5'-phosphates of the 2'- and 3'-O-methylribavirins (2a and 2b) and the methyl ester of ribavirin 5'-phosphate (3). The 5'-phosphate of 1-beta-(D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-triazole (2d) was obtained via the 3-carboxyl derivative of ribavirin 5'-phosphate (2c). Compounds 2a, 2b, and 2d were inactive as inactive as inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase under conditions where the parent ribavirin 5'-phosphate (2) was an effective inhibitor. Weak inhibitory activity was exhibited by 3 (Ki approximately 200 muM) and 2c (K1 approximately 70 muM). Under conditions where ribavirin (1) is effectively phosphorylated by rat liver nucleoside kinase, the 2'- and 3'-O-methylribavirins (1a and 1b), the 3-carboxylate of ribavirin (1c), and the riboside of 1,2,4-triazole (1d) were totally inactive. The overall results are fully consistent with the lack of antiviral activity of 1a and 1b, while the specificity of ribavirin as an antiviral agent is further underlined by the behavior of the methyl ester 3.