An improved synthesis of 3-deazaeytosine, 3-deazauracil, 3-deazacytidine,and 3-deazauridine

3-Dcazacytosine (4-amino-2-pyridone, 3 ), 3-doazauracil (4-hydroxy-2-pyridone, 5 ), 3-deaza-cytidine (4-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-2-pyridonc, 9 ), and 3-deazauridine (4-hydroxy-1-β-D-ribo-furanosyl-2-pyridone, 11 ) were prepared in high overall yields from 1-methoxy-1-buten-3-yne ( 1 ). Ethyl 3,5,5-triethoxy-3-pentenoate ( 2 ), obtained from acylatioti of 1 with diethyl carbonate and subsequent in situ conjugate addition of ethoxide, was cyelized with ammonia to provide 3 . Diazotization of 3 and subsequent in situ hydroxydediazotization afforded 5 . Nucleoside 9 was obtained from the stannic chloride-catalyzed condensation of bis-trimethylsilylated 3 and 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranose ( 7 ), followed by ammonolysis of the blocking groups. Diazotization of 9 and subsequent in situ hydroxydediazotization afforded nucleosidc 11 .