Abstract: | Six arsenic-containing β-D -ribofuranosides, including the naturally occurring (2′R)-dimethyl1-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. |