Compounds of the formulaare disclosed, wherein R1, represents secondary
alkyl; aralkyl; cycloalkyl; heteroaryl substituted
alkyl; norbornyl; and substituted secondary
alkyl, aralkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroaryl substituted alkyl, norbornyl; and para-substituted phenyl groups; and R2 and R3 are
hydrogen or pharmacologically acceptable acyl groups. The compounds of the invention are useful as cardiovascular vasodilator or anti-hypertensive agents. The therapeutically useful compounds of the invention as well as similar 5-N and N-6 substituted
adenosine 5-uronamides are prepared, in accordance with a novel process, from isopropylidene (or otherwise suitably blocked)
inosine-5'-
uronic acid. Isopropylideneinosine-5'-
uronic acid is reacted with a suitable inorganic acid
halide, such as
thionyl chloride, to yield 6-halogeno-9-[2',3'-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-5-
uronic acid halide]-9H-
purine. This intermediate is reacted with an amine of the general formula R4R5NH to give a 6-halogeno substituted, substituted uronic acid
amide of the formulawherein X is
halogen. Reaction of the latter intermediate with an amine of the formula R1-NH2, and removal of the isopropylidene (or other) blocking groups yields the compounds of the invention.