Aziridination of the uracil 5,6-olefinic bond of 3-N-3′,5′-Di-O-tribenzoyl-5-vinyl-2′-deoxyuridine

Oxidation of N-aminophthalimide with lead tetra-acetate at -50° gives N-acetoxyaminophthalimide ( 3 ) which selectively aziridinates the 5,6-double bond present in 3-N-3′,5′-di-O-tribenzoyl-5-vinyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 1a ) to yield 2-[1′-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)]-7-(1-phthalimido)-4-N-3′,5′-di-O-tribenzoyl-6-vinyl-2,4,7-triazabicyclo[4.1.0]heptan-3,5-dione ( 5 ).     

Synthesis and properties of 5-(1,2-dihaloethyl)-2′-deoxyuridines and related analogues

The regiospecific reaction of 5-vinyl-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 2 ) with HOX (X = Cl, Br, I) yielded the corresponding 5-(1-hydroxy-2-haloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines 3a-c . Alternatively, reaction of 2 with iodine monochloride in aqueous acetonitrile also afforded 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3c ). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 3a ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with DAST (Et₂NSF₃) in methylene chloride at -40° gave the respective 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6a , 74%) and 5-(1-fluoro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6b , 65%). In contrast, 5-(1-fluoro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6e ) could not be isolated due to its facile reaction with methanol, ethanol or water to yield the corresponding 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)- ( 6c ), 5-(1-ethoxy-2-iodoethyl)- ( 6d ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3c ). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 3a ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with thionyl chloride yielded the respective 5-(1,2-dichloroethyl)- ( 6f , 85%) and 5-(1-chloro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6g , 50%), whereas a similar reaction employing the 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)- compound 3c afforded 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6c ), possibly via the unstable 5-(1-chloro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine intermediate 6h . The 5-(1-bromo-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6i ) and 5-(1,2-dibromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6j ) could not be isolated due to their facile conversion to the corresponding 5-(1-ethoxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6k ) and 5-(1-ethoxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 61 ). Reaction of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with methanolic ammonia, to remove the 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl groups, gave 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-furano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6(5H)-one ( 8 ). In contrast, a similar reaction of 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6a ) yielded (E)-5-(2-chlorovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine ( 1b , 23%) and 5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)furano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one ( 9 , 13%). The mechanisms of the substitution and elimination reactions observed for these 5-(1,2-dihaloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines are described.     

Synthesis of 5-Methyluridine and Its 5′-Mercapto-, 2-Amino-, and 4′,5′-Unsaturated Analogues

The stereospecific cis-hydroxylation of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-β-D -glyceropent-2-enofuranosyl)thymine (1) into 1-β-D -ribofuranosylthymine (2) by osmium tetroxide is described. Treatment of 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-2,5′-anhydrouridine (8) with hydrogen sulfide or methanolic ammonia afforded 5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5′-mercapto-5-methyluridine (9) and 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-isocytidine (10) , respectively. The action of ethanolic potassium hydroxide on 5′-deoxy-5′-iodo-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyluridine (7) gave rise to the corresponding 1-(5-deoxy-β-D -erythropent-4-enofuranosyl)5-methyluracil (13) and 2-O-ethyl-5-methyluridine (14) . The hydrogenation of 2 and its 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene derivative 4 over 5% Rh/Al₂O₃ as catalyst generated diastereoisomers of the corresponding 5-methyl-5,6-dihydrouridine ( 17 and 18 ).     

Synthesis of 2′-amino-2′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine

Acetylation of 2′-deoxy-5-fluoro-2′-trifluoroacetamidouridine with acetic anhydride in pyridine, followed by treatment with phosphorus pentasulfide in refluxing dioxane afforded 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxy-5-fluoro-2′-trifluorothioacetamido-4-thiouridine ( 3 ). Treatment of 3 with methanolic sodium methoxide furnished 2′-deoxy-2′-trifluorothioacetamido-4-thiouridine ( 4 ), whereas its treatment with methanolic ammonia gave 2′-amino-2′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine ( 5 ). An alternative approach for the preparation of this compound proceeding from 2′-trifluoroacetamidocytidine was unsuccessful, since the use of acetic anhydride in pyridine led to the replacement of the trifluoroacetyl function by an acetyl group, yielding an intermediate unsuitable for obtaining the target compound. The title compound was inactive at 1 × 10^?4 M concentration against HeLa and leukemia L1210 cells in vitro, but inhibited the in vitro growth of E. coli cells at a concentration of 1 × 10^?7 M. It was also found to be a substrate for CR/dCR deaminase partially purified from human liver, with a Km of 128 μM.     

Nucleotides. Part XLV. Synthesis of new (2′–5′)adenylate trimers,containing 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine residues at the 5′-end of the oligoadenylate chain,and of its analogues,carrying a 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus

The 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 4 ) was obtained in pure form from 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 1 ), without isolation of intermediates 2 and 3 . The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl group was used for protection of the NH₂ functions of 4 (→7) . The selective introduction of the palmitoyl (= hexadecanoyl) group into the 5′-N-position of 4 was achieved by its treatment with palmitoyl chloride in MeCN in the presence of Et₃N (→ 5 ). The 3′-O-silyl derivatives 11 and 14 were isolated by column chromatography after treatment of the 2′,3′-O-deprotected compounds 8 and 9 , respectively, with (tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl chloride and 1H-imidazole in pyridine. The corresponding phosphoramidites 16 and 17 were synthesized from nucleosides 11 and 14 , respectively, and (cyanoethoxy)bis(diisopropylamino)phosphane in CH₂Cl₂. The trimeric (2′–5′)-linked adenylates 25 and 26 having the 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine and 5′-deoxy-5′-(palmitoylamino)adenosine residue, respectively, at the 5′-end were prepared by the phosphoramidite method. Similarly, the corresponding 5′-amino derivatives 27 and 28 carrying the 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus, were obtained. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by physical means. The synthesized trimers 25–28 were 3-, 15-, 25-, and 34-fold, respectively, more stable towards phosphodiesterase from Crotalus durissus than the trimer (2′–5′)ApApA.     

Synthesis of Certain 5-Substituted 2′-Deoxytubercidin Derivatives

The synthesis of the 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-adenine derivatives 7b–3 with chloro, bromo, or methyl substituents at C(5) is described. Glycosylation of the 5-substituted 4-chloropyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines 4b–d with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-(4-toluoyl)-α-D -erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride ( 3 ) gave the β-D -nucleosides 5b–d , exclusively. They were deblocked (→ 6b–d ) and converted into the tubercidin derivatives 7b–d .     

The synthesis of some purine nucleosides from 4,6-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-(ethoxycarbonylamino)-D-glucal

The acid catalyzed reaction of 4,6-di-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-(ethoxycarbonylamino)-D-glucal and 6-chloropurine in nitrometliane solution gave 6-ehloro-9-(4′,6′-di-O-acetyl-2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-ethoxy-carbonylamino-α- and β-D-arafemohexopyranosyl)purine. These were converted to the corresponding deblocked 6-dimetliylaminopurine nucleosides by treatment with ethanolic dimethylamine; acetylation of these gave the respective 4′,6′-di-O-acetyl derivatives. The anomeric assignments for the nucleosides were based on their nmr spectral data.     

Nucleotides. Part XXXI. Modified Oligomeric 2′–5′ A Analogues: Synthesis of 2′–5′ oligonucleotides with 9-(3′-azido-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine and 9-(3′-amino-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine as modified nucleosides

A series of new 2′–5′ oligonucleotides carrying the 9-(3′-azido-3′deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine moiety as a building block has been synthesized via the phosphotriester method. The use of the 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) blocking groups for phosphate, amino, and hydroxy protection guaranteed straightforward syntheses in high yields and easy deblocking lo form the 2′–5′ trimers 21 , 22 , and 25 and the tetramer 23 . Catalytic reduction of the azido groups in [9-(3′-azido-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine]2′-yl-[2′-(O^p-ammonio)→ 5′]-[9-(3′-azido-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenin]-2′-yl-[2′-(O^p-ammonio)→ 5′]-9-(3′-azido-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)adenine ( 21 ) led to the corresponding 9-(3′-amino-3′-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)-adenine 2′–5′ trimer 26 in which the two internucleotidic linkages are formally neutralized by intramolecular betaine formation.     

Synthesis of S-5-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridinemethyl and S-5- and S-6-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyridinemethyl derivatives of 5′-deoxy-5′-thioadenosine

Reaction of 5-dimethylaminomethylpyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine methiodide or 5-dimethylaminomethylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one methiodide with 5′-deoxy-5′-S-thioacetyl-N⁶-formyl-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine in ethanolic sodium hydroxide solution, followed by deprotection of the resulting thioether in 80% formic acid, afforded 5′-deoxy-5′-(5-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridinemethylthio)adenosine or 5′-deoxy-5′-[5-(pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one)methylthio]adenosine, respectively. Similarly, the metiodide salt of the iso-gramine analog, 2-amino-6-dimethylaminomethylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one afforded 5′-deoxy-5′-[6-(2-aminopyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one)methylthio]adenosine.     

Syntheses and Reactions of 1′,2′-Unsaturated 2′,3′-Seconucleoside Analogues

The 1′,2′-unsaturated 2′,3′-secoadenosine and 2′,3′-secouridine analogues were synthesized by the regioselective elimination of the corresponding 2′,3′-ditosylates, 2 and 18 , respectively, under basic conditions. The observed regioselectivity may be explained by the higher acidity and, hence, preferential elimination of the anomeric H–C(1′) in comparison to H? C(4′). The retained (tol-4-yl)sulfonyloxy group at C(3′) of 3 allowed the preparation of the 3′-azido, 3′-chloro, and 3′-hydroxy derivatives 5–7 by nucleophilic substitution. ZnBr₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ was found to be successful in the removal (85%) of the trityl group without any cleavage of the acid-sensitive, ketene-derived N,O-ketal function. In the uridine series, base-promoted regioselective elimination (→ 19 ), nucleophilic displacement of the tosyl group by azide (→ 20 ), and debenzylation of the protected N(3)-imide function gave 1′,2′-unsaturated 5′-O-trityl-3′-azido-secouridine derivative 21 . The same compound was also obtained by the elimination performed on 2,2′-anhydro-3′-azido-3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-O-2′,3′-secouridine ( 22 ) that reacted with KO(t-Bu) under opening of the oxazole ring and double-bond formation at C(1′).     

Synthesis of New Five Membered Nitrogen Containing Heterocycles Bearing D-Galactose Side Chains

The synthesis of 5-[6′-deoxy-(1′,2′:3′,4′-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranos-6′-yl)]tetrazole and its reaction with acetic anhydride and 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-6-O-(4-toluenesulfonyl)-α-D-galactopyranose are described.     

Selectively Deoxygenated Derivatives of β-Maltosyl-(1→4)-Trehalose as Biological Probes

ABSTRACT

The four derivatives of β-maltosyl-(1→4)-trehalose have been synthesized, which are monodeoxygenated at the site of one of the primary hydroxyl groups. The tetrasaccharides were constructed in [2+2] block syntheses. Thus, 6′″-deoxy-β-maltosyl-(1→4)-trehalose was prepared by selective iodination of allyl 2,3,6,2′,3′-penta-O-acetyl-β-maltoside (3) followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis and coupling with 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranosyl 2′,3′,6′-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (9), and 6″-deoxy-β-maltosyl-(1→4)-trehalose by selective iodination of allyl 4′,6′-O-isopropylidene-β-maltoside (14), coupling with 9, and one-step hydrogenolysis at the tetrasaccharide level. For the synthesis of 6′-deoxy-β-maltosyl-(1→4)-trehalose, the diol 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranosyl 2′,3′-di-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranoside (22) was selectively iodinated and glycosylated with acetobromomaltose followed by catalytic hydrogenolysis. The 6-deoxy-β-maltosyl-(1→4)-trehalose was obtained upon selective iodination of a tetrasaccharide diol.     

Selective N3- and 5′-O-Alkylation of 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine with methyl iodide

The 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine ( 1 ) reacts with MeI in the presence of an excess of NaH in THF giving 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-methyluridine ( 2 ). Prolonged reaction time gives rise to 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-3,5′-O-dimethyluridine ( 4 ). The use of an equimolar amount of base and alkylating agent results predominantly in methylation at N(3) (→ 3).     

Synthesis of 5′-halo-2′,3′-lyxo-epoxy and 2′,3′-unsaturated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine nucleosides

A series of thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione nucleosides modified in the carbohydrate moiety has been synthesized. In the first part, synthetic routes are described for the replacement of 5′-hydroxyl group in preformed 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione I by fluoro, iodo or chloro atoms. Reduction of the 5′-iodo substituent of VI was then carried out catalytically using palladium on carbon as catalyst to give the expected 5′-deoxy derivative VIII. The lyxo-epoxide derivative XII was then synthesized by sequential treatment of the 5′-deoxy-5′-chloro derivative X with methanesulfonyl chloride and with sodium hydroxide. In the second part, most of attention has been devoted to apply different methods reported in the literature that allow access to 2′,3′-olefinic derivatives from the corresponding 2′,3′-dihydroxy precursor. The 5′-O-silyl protected bisxanthate XIV either on reduction with tri-n-butyltin hydride or by reductive elimination of the haloacetate XVI afforded the free 2′,3′-olefin nucleoside after removal of the 5′-protecting group. However none of the compounds in this series exhibited significant antiviral activity against HIV at the doses tested.     

Nucleosides XII.1 Synthesis of 5‐Modified Isoguanosines and Reinvestigation of 5′‐Deoxy‐N3,5′‐cycloisoguanosine

Isoguanosine ( 3 ) underwent a coupling reaction with diaryl disulfides in the presence of tri‐n‐butylphosphine when its 6‐amino group was protected by N,N‐dimethylaminomethylidene. The synthesis of 5′‐deoxy‐N³,5′‐cycloisoguanosine ( 6 ) and its 2′,3′‐O‐isopropylidene derivative ( 11 ) were accomplished in excellent yields from isoguanosines ( 3 & 10 ) in the presence of triphenylphospine and carbon tetrachloride in pyridine. Chlorination at the 5′‐position of isoguanosine ( 3 ) with thionyl chloride followed by the aqueous base‐promoted cyclization afforded the same product 6 . The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including IR, UV, 1‐D and 2‐D NMR.     

2′, 3′-Dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin and Related Dideoxyribonucleosides:. Synthesis via a 2′-deoxy-3′-oxoribofuranoside intermediate and conformation studies

An efficient synthesis of the unknown 2′-deoxy-D-threo-tubercidin ( 1b ) and 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) as well as of the related nucleosides 9a, b and 10b is described. Reaction of 4-chloro-7-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ( 5 ) with (tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl chloride yielded 6 which gave the 3′-keto nucleoside 7 upon oxidation at C(3′). Stereoselective NaBH₄ reduction (→ 8 ) followed by deprotection with Bu₄NF(→ 9a )and nucleophilic displacement at C(6) afforded 1b as well as 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-D-threo-inosine ( 9b ). Mesylation of 4-chloro-7-{2-deoxy-5-O-[(tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl]-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl}-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine ( 8 ), treatment with Bu₄NF (→ 12a ) and 4-halogene displacement gave 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-tubercidin ( 3 ) as well as 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-7-deazainosne ( 12c ). On the other hand, 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) resulted from 8 by treatment with diethylamino sulfurtrifluoride (→ 10a ), subsequent 5′-de-protection with Bu₄NF (→ 10b ), and Cl/NH₂ displacement. ¹H-NOE difference spectroscopy in combination with force-field calculations on the sugar-modified tubercidin derivatives 1b , 2 , and 3 revealed a transition of the sugar puckering from the ^3′T_2′ conformation for 1b via a planar furanose ring for 3 to the usual ^2′T_3′ conformation for 2.     

Syntheses of various 5-(3′-substituted phenyl)uracils

The Suzuki Pd(0)-catalysed coupling between arylboronic acids and aryl bromides or iodides in weakly alkaline medium has been used for the preparation of 5-(3′-chlorophenyl)-, 5-(3′-iodophenyl)-, 5-(3′-aminophenyl)-, 5-(3′-azidophenyl)-, 5-(3′-methylthiophenyl)- and 5-(3′-styryl)-substituted 2,4-di-t-butoxypyrimidines. In the coupling between 2,4 di-t-butoxy-5-pyrimidineboronic acid and the six different aryl halides that were used as coupling partners, only 1-azido-3-bromobenzene did not give satisfactory yields, 18%. The other five aryl halides gave the desired 5-(3′-substituted phenyl)-2,4-di-r-butoxypyrimidines in 41–92% yield. Dealkylation of these five 5-(3′-substituted phenyl)-2,4-di-t-butoxypyrimidines in 2.5M hydrochloric acid gave the corresponding 5-(bromoaryl)uracils in almost quantitative yields. 5-(3′-Azidophenyl)uracil was prepared in 43% yield directly from 5-(3′-aminophenyl)-2,4-di-r-butoxypyrimidine.     

Regioselective Transformations of 2′,3′-Seconucleosides into Anhydro Structures and Chiral Crown Ethers

Intramolecular cyclisation of properly protected and activated derivatives of 2′,3′-secouridine ( = 1-{2-hydroxy-1-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-ethyl}uracil; 1 ) provided access to the 2,2′-, 2,3′-, 2,5′-, 2′,5′-, 3′,5′-, and 2′,3′-anhydro-2′,3′-secouridines 5, 16, 17, 26, 28 , and 31 , respectively (Schemes 1–3). Reaction of 2′,5′-anhydro-3′-O-(methylsulfonyl)- ( 25 ) and 2′,3′-anhydro-5′-O-(methylsulfonyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 32 ) with CH₂CI₂ in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene generated the N(3)-methylene-bridged bis-uridine structure 37 and 36 , respectively (Scheme 3). Novel chiral 18-crown-6 ethers 40 and 44 , containing a hydroxymethyl and a uracil-1-yl or adenin-9-yl as the pendant groups in a 1,3-cis relationship, were synthesized from 5′-O-(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 2 ) and 5′-O,N⁶-bis(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secoadenosine ( 41 ) on reaction with 3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-diyl bis(4-toluenesulfonate) and detritylation of the thus obtained (triphenylmethoxy) methylcompound 39 and 43 , respectively (Scheme 4).     

Investigation of the torsional angle at the glycosidic bond in 5′-amino-5′-deoxythymidine derivatives by carbon-13 n.m.r. spectroscopy

The conformational preference of the thymine base ring with respect to the sugar ring in β,β,β,-trichloroethyl 5′amino-5′-deoxythymidine-5′-phosphate has been studied by ¹³C n.m.r. spectroscopy. The magnitude of the three bond vicinal coupling constant, J(C-2, H-1′), for β,β,β-trichloroethyl 5′-amino-5′-deoxythymidine-5′-phosphate and the similarity between the chemical shifts for the furanose carbons C-1′, C-2′, and C-3′ in β,β,β-trichloroethyl 5-′-amino-5′-deoxythymidine-5′-phosphate and in β,β,β-trichloroethyl thymidine 5′-phosphate indicate that the amino analogue exists in aqueous solution predominantly in the anti conformation, as is the case with natural nucleotides.     

Synthesis of 1-O-R-5-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosides with (CH3)2As and (CH3)2AsO as substituents at the 5-position and a methyl or 2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl group as the aglycone in the 1-position

Six arsenic-containing β-D -ribofuranosides, including the naturally occurring (2′R)-dimethyl[1-O-(2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl)-5-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranos-5-yl]arsine oxide, were prepared in multi-step reactions from D -ribose and tetramethyldiarsine. The synthetic procedure uses the early substitution of the hydroxy group with bromine at C5, subsequent attachment of a chiral three-carbon aglycone at C1, and final delivery of arsenic at C5. The synthesis provides a viable route for the preparation of multigram quantities of the natural product.