A novel and efficient synthesis of the naturally occurring nucleoside doridosine

1-Methylisoguanosine was synthesized by a one-pot reaction involving a condensation of 5-amino-1-(β-$\text{D}$-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carboxamide (1) with methyl isothiocyanate, treatment of the resulting thiourea derivative with DCC furnished 5-(3-methyl-1-ureido)-1-(β-$\text{D}$-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carbonitrile (4) which was then annulated with ethanolic ammonia to furnish doridosine in a 68% yield from 1.