Synthesis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies of 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-sulfonamide and certain related nucleosides

1-β-D-Ribofuranosyl- 21 , 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erytftro-pento fur anosyl)- 27 and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl- 29 derivatives of 1,2,4-triazole-3-sulfonamide ( 19 ) have been prepared. Glycosylation of the silylated 19 with 1,2,3,5-tetra-0-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranose ( 5 ) in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate gave the corresponding blocked nucleoside ( 20 ), which on ammonolysis afforded 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-sulfonamide ( 21 ). Stereospecific glycosylation of the sodium salt of 19 with either 1-chloro-2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluoyl-α-D-erythro-pentofuranose ( 22 ) or 1-chloro-2,3,5-tri-0-benzyl-α-D-arabinofuranose ( 23 ) provided the corresponding protected nucleosides 26 and 28. Deprotection of 26 and 28 furnished 1-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-sulfonamide ( 27 ) and 1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3-sulfonamide ( 29 ), respectively. 2-0-D-Ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3(4H)-thione ( 7 ) and 4-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1,2,4-triazole-3(2H)-thione ( 9 ) were also prepared utilizing either an acid catalyzed fusion of 1,2,4-triazole-3(1H,2H)-thione ( 4 ) with 5 , the reaction of 5 with silylated 4 in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate, or by ring closure of 4-(2,3,5-tri-0-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)thiosemicarbazide ( 10 ) with mixed anhydride and subsequent deacylation. The synthesis of 1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole ( 15 ) has also been accomplished by the silylation procedure employing 3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole ( 13 ) and 5 to give 1-(2,3,5-tri-0-acetyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-3-benzylthio-1,2,4-triazole ( 14 ). Deacetylation of 14 furnished 15 . The structural assignments of 7, 14 and 21 were made by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and their hydrogen bonding characteristics have been studied. The sulfonamido-1,2,4-triazole nucleosides are devoid of any significant antiviral or antitumor activity in cell culture.