A convenient synthesis of 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (acyclovir) and related compounds.

A convenient and economical synthesis of 9-(2-hydroxyethoxymethyl)guanine (1, acyclovir, Zovirax, or acyclic guanosine : an antiherpetic agent)from guanine was developed via N2, O-diacetylacyclovir. Two closely related compounds, N2-acetylacyclovir (7) and O-acetylacyclovir (8), were also prepared by selective deacetylation.