A lithiation approach to cordycepin analogues variously substituted at the C‐8 position

Several 8‐substituted cordycepins were prepared via LDA lithiation of 2′,5′‐bis‐ O ‐( t ‐butyldimethylsilyl)‐cordycepin and successive reactions of its C‐8 lithiated species with various types of electrophiles. Wittig reaction of the 8‐formyl derivative was also examined.