Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Phosphorylated Derivatives of Ribavirin

Novel phosphorylated derivatives of ribavirin 5-16 were synthesized by the reaction of 4-nitrophenyl phosphorodichloridate with various amino acid esters in the presence of triethylamine in dry tetrahydrofuran through the intermediates 3. On further reaction of 3 with ribavirin in THF and pyridine in the presence of TEA afforded the title compounds 5-16. Their structures were characterized by IR, H-1, C-13, P-31 NMR and mass spectral analyses. All the title compounds were found to exhibit potent in vitro anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines.