7-Oxo-4,7-dihydrothieno[3,2-b]pyridine-6-carboxamides: Synthesis and biological activity of a new class of highly potent inhibitors of human cytomegalovirus DNA polymerase

A new class of non-nucleoside antivirals is reported, wherein a C-3 methyl group confers dramatic improvement in potency, perhaps due to conformational restriction of the C-2 sidechain.