Selectivity between N-1 and N-7 nucleosides: regioselective synthesis of BMK-Y101, a potent cdk7 and 9 inhibitor

BMK-Y101 is a new pyrrolo2,3-d]pyrimidine-based potent cdk7 and 9 inhibitor, which is characterized by an intriguing structural feature of N-1 nucleoside, departing from previously reported N-7 nucleoside Cdk inhibitor, xylocydine. Though N-1 nucleosides have appeared in the literature, they have often been considered as kinetic products and thus intermediates of N-7 glycosylation. In the course of the synthetic studies of xylocydine derivatives, we have developed a highly regioselective method to obtain the N-1 nucleoside. The origin of the selectivity is apparently based on the reactivity of the silylated nucleobase and the stability of the resulting N-1 nucleoside. The choice of BSA as a silylating agent was critical in securing the N-1 nucleoside, BMK-Y101. On the other hand, proper selection of reaction conditions promoting transglycosylation provides an efficient route to N-7 nucleosides.