An efficient Mitsunobu coupling to adenine-derived carbocyclic nucleosides

Adenine is a poor substrate for the Mitsunobu process to carbocyclic nucleosides. However, N-6 amino bis-Boc-protected adenine is reported herein to undergo an efficient coupling under these conditions as a result of its increased solubility and the reduced competing nucleophilicity of the free adenine amino substituent. Products from this reaction are readily converted to aristeromycin, neplanocin, and analogs there from, including 5′-homoaristeromycin, a promising antiviral agent.