Simple synthesis of some pentafluoropropenyl derivatives of pyrimidine and purine based on addition-elimination reaction

Various pentafluoropropenyl derivatives of pyrimidine and purine bases have been obtained in good to high yield. The procedure involves the reaction of appropriate lithium derivatives prepared from both electron-rich and electron-poor pyrimidines, with the hexafluoropropene at a low temperature, via an addition-elimination process. Organolithiums of pyrimidine and purine bases give addition-elimination products as E/Z mixtures, whereas the products of the reaction of lithium amide of protected inosine with hexafluoropropene contain traces of an addition product as well as the stable perfluoroenamine. The methodology proposed allows a series of perfluorovinyl nucleobases to be obtained quickly and conveniently.