A modular approach to aryl-C-ribonucleosides via the allylic substitution and ring-closing metathesis sequence. a stereocontrolled synthesis of all four α-/β- and D-/L-C-nucleoside stereoisomers.

Iridium(I)-catalyzed allylation of the enantiopure monoprotected copper(I) alkoxide, generated from (S)-5a, with the enantiopure allylic carbonates (R)-9a,b has been developed as the key step in a new approach to C-nucleoside analogues. The anomeric center was thus constructed via a stereocontrolled formation of the C-O rather than C-C bond with retention of configuration. The resulting bisallyl ethers 15a,b (≥90% de and >99% ee) were converted into C-ribosides 29a,b via the Ru-catalyzed ring-closing metathesis, followed by a diastereoselective dihydroxylation catalyzed by OsO(4) or RuO(4) and deprotection.

Synthesis of enantiopure 1-arylprop-2-en-1-ols and their tert-butyl carbonates.

Enantiomerically pure 1-arylpropenols 8 have been prepared by resolution of the corresponding racemates, using the lipase formulation Novozyme 435. Deprotonation of the latter alcohols with n-BuLi, followed by derivatization with (t-BuO)2CO, afforded the corresponding carbonates 5. Optimization of the process is presented.