Synthesis of (5R)- and (5S)-5-Methyl-5, 6-dihydrouridine Derivatives

The hydrogenation of 2′, 3′-O-isopropylidene-5-methyluridine (1) in water over 5% Rh/Al₂O₃ gave (5 R)- and (5 S)-5-methyl-5, 6-dihydrouridine (2) , separated as 5′-O-(p-tolylsulfonyl)- (3) and 5′-O-benzoyl- (5) derivatives by preparative TLC. on silica gel and ether/hexane developments. The diastereoisomeric differentiation at the C(5) chiral centre depends upon the reaction media and the nature of the protecting group attached to the ribosyl moiety. The synthesis of iodo derivatives (5 R)- and (5 S)- 4 is also described. The diastereoisomers 4 were converted into (5 R)- and (5 S)-2′, 3′,-O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-2, 5′-anhydro-5, 6-dihydrouridine (7) .