ChemInform Abstract: Synthesis of 2′,3′‐Dideoxynucleosides from 5‐Alkoxymethyluracils.

A modified synthesis of protected 2,3-dideoxyribose5 starting fromL-glutamic acid (1) is described. Reaction of5 with silylated 5-hydroxymethyluracil7 a and 5-alkoxymethyluracils7 b–e in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate afforded an anomeric mixture of 2′,3′-dideoxyuridine derivatives8 a–e and9 a–e. Deprotection with methanolic ammonia and separation by chromatography gave the corresponding nucleosides10 a–e and11 a–e. Treatment of9 b–e with tri(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)phosphine oxide and subsequent reaction of12 b–e with ammonia in dioxane afforded the cytosine derivatives13 b–e which on treatment with methanolic ammonia gave the corresponding 2′,3′-dideoxycytidine derivatives14 b–e and15 b–e. In contrast with the parent compounds, these alkoxymethyl derivatives had no appreciable activity against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1).