Abstract We report the synthesis of a series of novel 2′-deoxy-2′, 2′-difluoro-5- halouridines and their corresponding phosphoramidate ProTides. All compounds were evaluated for antiviral activity and for cellular toxicity. Interestingly, 2′-deoxy-2′, 2′- difluoro-5-iodo-and-5-bromo-uridines showed selective activity against feline herpes virus replication in cell culture due to a specific recognition (activation) by the virus-encoded ...