Abstract: | The α-D-arabinonucleosides of cytosine ( 6 ) and 5-fluorouracil ( 9 ) were prepared from the 2,3,-5-tri-O-benzoyl-D-arabinofuranosyl halides, in keeping with the trans rule. The 2′-O-methyl-)3-D-arabinonucleosides of 5-fluorouraeil (β- 14 ) and adenine (β- 21a ) were prepared from 3,5-di-O-(4-ehlorobenzoyl)-2-O-methyl-α-D-arabinofuranosyl chloride, although in both cases a lesser amount of the α-anomer was also found. Reaction of 3,5-di-O-(4-chlorobenzoyl)-2-deoxy-2-(methylthio)-α-D-arabinofuranosyl chloride, prepared in four steps from methyl 2,3-anhydro-α-D-ribofurano-side ( 15 ), with N-benzoyladenine gave slightly more of the β- than the α-arabinonucleoside 20b . The β-anomer was converted to 9-2-deoxy-2-(methylthio)-β-D-arabinofuranosyl]adenine. Only 1-α-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine ( 6 ) proved to be cytotoxic. |