Nucleosides and Nucleotides. 98. Synthesis and Antitumor Activities of 5-Ethynylimidazole-4-carboxamide and -carbonitrile Derivatives

5-Ethynyl-1-(2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carbonitrile (4) and -carboxamide (5) and 5-ethynyl-1-(5-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)imidazole-4-carbonitrile (11) and -carboxamide (12) have been synthesized from the corresponding 5-iodo derivatives 2 and 7 by a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction with (tri-methylsilyl)acetylene. The aglycons, 5-ethynylimidazole derivatives 14 and 15 were synthesized by the hydrolytic cleavage of the corresponding nucleosides. The antileukemic activity of these nucleosides and base analogues are also described.