Regioselective Transformations of 2′,3′-Seconucleosides into Anhydro Structures and Chiral Crown Ethers

Intramolecular cyclisation of properly protected and activated derivatives of 2′,3′-secouridine ( = 1-{2-hydroxy-1-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-ethyl}uracil; 1 ) provided access to the 2,2′-, 2,3′-, 2,5′-, 2′,5′-, 3′,5′-, and 2′,3′-anhydro-2′,3′-secouridines 5, 16, 17, 26, 28 , and 31 , respectively (Schemes 1–3). Reaction of 2′,5′-anhydro-3′-O-(methylsulfonyl)- ( 25 ) and 2′,3′-anhydro-5′-O-(methylsulfonyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 32 ) with CH₂CI₂ in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene generated the N(3)-methylene-bridged bis-uridine structure 37 and 36 , respectively (Scheme 3). Novel chiral 18-crown-6 ethers 40 and 44 , containing a hydroxymethyl and a uracil-1-yl or adenin-9-yl as the pendant groups in a 1,3-cis relationship, were synthesized from 5′-O-(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 2 ) and 5′-O,N⁶-bis(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secoadenosine ( 41 ) on reaction with 3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-diyl bis(4-toluenesulfonate) and detritylation of the thus obtained (triphenylmethoxy) methylcompound 39 and 43 , respectively (Scheme 4).