Synthesis of “9-deazaadenosine”; A new cytotoxic C-nucleoside isostere of adenosine

The synthesis of 7-(β-$\text{D}$-ribofuranosyl)-4-amino-5H-pyrrolo[3,2-$\text{d}$]pyrimidine (9-deazaadenosine) $\text{9}$ is described. It involves base-catalyzed cyclization of N-carboethoxyenamine $\text{4}$ to give β- and α-ribosylated 3-amino-2-cyanopyrroles $\text{6}$ and $\text{7}$, respectively, followed by a one-step conversion to the desired pyrrolo[3,2-$\text{d}$]pyrimidine system.