Dinucleotides of 4′-C-vinyl- and 5′-C-allylthymidine as substrates for ring-closing metathesis reactions

Thymidine derivatives containing a 4′-C-vinyl group or a 5′-C-allyl group are synthesized and used as building blocks for three different dinucleotides. These are evaluated as substrates for ring-closing metathesis cyclisations, and a protected 5′-C-allylthymidine homo-dimer is found to be the most reactive. A protected precursor for a conformationally restricted cyclic dinucleotide with a four carbon 5′-C to 5′-C connection is hereby efficiently obtained, whereas a corresponding three carbon 4′-C to 5′-C connection is obtained in a lower yield.