ИСТИНА

5-Arylethynyl derivatives of pyrimidine nucleosides with bulky aryl residues, initially prepared as fluorescent compounds, later were recognized as a new class of antivirals with nonnucleoside mechanism of action. Among these compounds, called rigid amphipathic fusion inhibitors (RAFIs), perylene derivatives are the most potent broad spectrum inhibitors of enveloped viruses. The lipid part of viral membrane was suggested to be a target for these compounds. Both shape and photophysical properties of the conjugated aryl part of the molecule are probably crucial for antiviral properties, and a carbohydrate part is less important. In our program of structure–activity studies we perform synthesis of conjugated perylene derivatives. Here we report clusters of 5-(perylen-3-ylethynyl)uracils, a pharmacophore unit responsible for antiviral activity of RAFIs.