L‐Erythruronic Acid Derivatives as Building Blocks for Nucleoside Analogs. Synthesis of 4′‐C‐Aryl‐D‐ribonucleosides

Abstract 2, 3‐O‐Cyclohexylidene‐L‐erythruronic acid (6) available in 83% yield from D‐ribonolactone (7), was treated with phenvlmagnesium bromide to give the D‐ribo and L‐lyxo derivatives 10 and 11 in high yields (Scheme 1 and 2). The diastereoselectivity depended on the temperature and mode of operation (Table 1). The absolute configuration of 10 and 11 was determined by correlation with (R)‐ and (S)phenylethanediol (17 and 16) respectively, excluding intramolecular hydride shifts during formation of 10 and 11. Reaction of 6 with methcoxymethoxyphenyllithium gave the lactones 18 and 19. The L‐lyxo isomer 19 was transformed in high yields into the D‐ribo lactone 18. Compound 10 was transformed into the adenosine analoge 24 by reduction with Diisobutylaluminium hydride, hydrolysis, acetylation and nucleoside synthesis according to Vorbrüggen (Scheme 3). Its structure was deduced from its UV., NMR. and CD. data and from those of the isopropylidene derivative 25. Similarly, 18 was transformed into the adenosine analog 29 and into the isopropylidene derivative 30.