Bicyclic anti-VZV nucleosides: thieno analogues bearing an alkylphenyl side chain have reduced antiviral activity

Thieno analogues of the potent and selective furo-pyrimidine anti-VZV nucleoside family bearing a p-alkylphenyl side chain have been synthesised and tested for their antiviral activity against Varicella–Zoster virus (VZV). While the alkyl chain analogues were shown to retain full antiviral activity against VZV, these new analogues did not when compared to their furo parent nucleosides.