Nonglycoside analogs of nucleotides

N¹-(2′,3′-Dihydroxypropyl)uracil, -thymine, -cytosine, and N⁹-(2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl)adenine were synthesized by alkylation of nucleic bases with 2,3-O-isopropylideneglycerol chlorohydrin, subsequent separation of the resulting mixtures, and removal of the protective groupings. Phosphorylation of these compounds or of their selectively substituted derivatives gave 2′(3′)-monophosphates, which were converted to 2′,3′-cyclophosphates by reaction with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Thionation of the corresponding cytosine derivatives gave N¹-(2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl)-4-thiouracil and its 2′(3′) phosphate.