The synthesis and antiviral evaluation of a series of (+-)-3,5- dihydroxypentyl nucleoside analogues related to acyclicnucleoside antiviral agents are reported. All purine and pyrimidinenucleoside analogues described in this paper have been obtained from 1-amino-5-(benzyloxy)pentan-3-ol. A synthesis of this amine is reported from 1-(benzyloxy)but-3-ene after epoxidation and regiospecific diethylaluminum