Abstract A series of compounds derived from the acyclic nucleoside antiviral 9-(2- phosphonomethoxyethyl) adenine (PMEA), in which the adenine ring is replaced by phenyl, 4-aminophenyl, 3-aminophenyl or 3, 5-diaminophenyl group, has been prepared starting from the corresponding phenethyl alcohols. 2-(3-Aminophenyl) ethanol was prepared from 3- nitrobenzoyl chloride using the Arndt-Eistert reaction. The primarily formed diazoketone Ia ...