Regioselective 2′/3′-O-Allylation of Pyrimidine Ribonucleosides Using Phase Transfer Catalysis

A short and convenient procedure for regiospecific O-allylation of uridine is reported by employing dibutyltin oxide as a mild base in conjunction with a phase transfer catalyst tetrabutylammonium bromide. The resulting isomeric 2′/3′-O-allyl uridines were separated after conversion into their corresponding 5′-O-DMT derivatives. The 2′-O-allyluridine 3 was then transformed into 2′-O-allylcytidine 7 and both were individually converted into the corresponding β-cyanoethyl phosphoramidite monomers (9 and 10) and a phosphodiester monomer 11, required for oligonucleotide assembly. The utility of 11 is demonstrated by synthesis and characterization of a 2′-O-allyl ribodinucleotide UpU.