Viral infections selected from the group consisting of herpes simplex virus, varicella zoster virus, respiratory syncytial virus and cytomegalovirus can be treated by administering to the host a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; ##STR1## wherein Y, Ra, and R1 are as defined herein. The compounds and salts can also be used to inhibit viral replication of these viruses in cells.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/667,326, filed on Sep. 22, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,583,149, which claims priority to provisional U.S. applications Ser. No. 60/155,704 filed on Sep. 24, 1999 and Ser. No. 60/155,705 filed on Sep. 24, 1999, which are herein incorporated by reference.
