Synthesis and synthetic applications of 1-(3-O-tosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) thymines: toward new classes of hexopyranosyl pyrimidines

1-(2,4,6-Tri-O-acetyl-3-O-tosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) thymine has been synthesized by combining thymine with the appropriate carbohydrate. The availability of this key nucleoside made possible the synthesis of 2,2′-O-anhydro-(4,6-O-phenylmethylene-β-d-altropyranosyl) thymine and 1-(2,3-O-anhydro-4,6-O-phenylmethylene-β-d-mannopyranosyl) thymine. A wide range of modified hexopyranosyl nucleosides can be easily prepared from these functionalized starting materials.