7‐Halogenated 7‐Deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthine 2′‐Deoxyribonucleosides

The synthesis of the 7‐halogenated derivatives 1b (7‐bromo) and 1c (7‐iodo) of 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine (1a) is described. A partial Br→I exchange was observed when the demethylation of 6‐methoxy precursor compound 4b was performed with Me3SiCl/NaI. This reaction is circumvented by the nucleophilic displacement of the MeO group under strong alkaline conditions. The halogenated 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine derivatives 1b,c show a decreased S‐conformer population of the sugar moiety compared to the nonhalogenated 1a. They are expected to form stronger triplexes when they replace 1a in the 1⋅dA⋅dT base triplet.