Synthesis of 3′-Azido, 2′,3′-Didehydro, and 3′,4′-Didehydro Nucleosides from 5-Alkoxymethyluracils

Abstract

Reaction of methyl 5-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-iodo-D-threo-pentofuranoside (3) with silylated 5-alkoxymethyluracils 2a–c using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a catalyst afforded the α nucleosides 4a–c and the β nucleosides 5a–c. The corresponding 3′,4′- and 4′,5′-didehydro nucleosides 6–9 were prepared in an elimination reaction by treating the iodo nucleosides 4a–c or 5a–c with 10 equivalents of sodium methoxide in methanol under reflux. The deprotected 3′-azido nucleosides 10a–c and 11a–c of the AZT type as well as the 4′,5′-didehydro nucleosides 7a–c and 9a–c were prepared by treating 4a–c and 5a–c, respectively, with sodium azide and subsequently with tetrabutylammonium fluoride.