A series of 6-substituted 2 ', 3 '-dideoxypurine ribofuranosides (ddP) was enzymatically synthesized with live E. coli in an effort to enhance the lipophilicity of this class of anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compounds and thereby facilitate drug delivery into the central nervous system. All 6-halo-substituted ddPs were substantially more lipophilic, as defined by their octanol-water partition coefficient (P), than their nonhalogenated congeners 2', 3'- ...
