Nucleophilic addition of benzenethiol to 1',2'-unsaturated nucleosides: 1'-C-phenylthio-2'-deoxynucleosides as anomeric radical precursors

The addition reaction of benzenethiol to the glycal portion of 1',2'-unsaturated uridine proceeds efficiently in the presence of Et(3)N. The mechanism involves nucleophilic attack of thiolate at the anomeric position in the rate-determining step, wherein conjugation between the nucleobase and the glycal portion is crucial. The derivative having a methyl group either at the 2'- or 6-position did not undergo this addition reaction, due to their sterically prohibited coplanarity. The 1',2'-unsaturated derivatives of thymine and adenine can also be used as substrates for this addition reaction. It was also shown that the resulting 1'-C-phenylthio-2'-deoxynucleosides serve as precursors for radical-mediated C-C bond formation at the anomeric position.