Total synthesis of hydroxymethyl isonucleosides as potential antiviral agents

Abstract

Hydroxymethyl isodideoxynucleosides, designed as potential antiviral agents, have been synthesized through development of a multi-step procedure starting from furan and cyanovinyl acetate. Key steps in the synthesis include a Diels-Alder reaction, oxidative cleavage of alkene, a Mitsunobu reaction, stereospecific introduction of amino group and nucleobase construction.