Coupling of terminal alkynes with 5-iodo-1-methyluracil and 5-iodouracil nucleosides (protected as their p-toluyl esters) proceeded in high yields in the presence of bis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (II) chloride and copper (1) iodide in warm triethylamine. Several of the subsequently deprotected B-alkynyl-2'-deosyuridines, including the parent 5- ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, had antiviral activity, and their 5'-monophosphates inhibited ...