Synthesis of Novel Carbocyclic Nucleoside Analogues Containing Bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-ene-2-methanol

Abstract

Starting ethyl (1R*,2R*,3R*,4S*)-3-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene-2-carboxylate (9) was reduced with LiAlH4and benzoylated giving [(1R*,2R*,3R*,4S*)-3-bromobicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-yl]methyl benzoate (11). Treatment of11with NaN3and CrO3in acetic acid afforded [(1R*,2S*,3R*,4R*,5S*,6R*)-6-azido-3-bromo-5-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]hept-2-yl]methyl benzoate (12a) and [(1R*,2S*,3S*,4R*,5S*,6R*)-5-azido-3-bromo-6-hydroxybicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-yl]-methyl benzoate (12b). These key intermediates were separated and converted in five reaction steps to (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)-3-[(5-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)amino]-5-(hydroxymethyl)- bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (17a) and (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)-3-[(5-amino-6-chloropyrimidin-4-yl)- amino]-6-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (17b). Ring closure with triethyl orthoformate led to (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)-5-(chloromethyl)-3-(6-chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (18a) and (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)-6-(chloromethyl)-3-(6-chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)- bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (18b) using hydrochloric acid as a catalyst or (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)-3-(6-chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)-5-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (19a) and (1R*,2R*,3S*,4S*)- 3-(6-chloro-9H-purin-9-yl)-6-(hydroxymethyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2-ol (19b) using trifluoro- acetic acid as a catalyst. From19aand19b, 6-amino- and 6-(cyclopropylamino)purine derivatives20and21were prepared.