Synthesis of (±)-4′-ethynyl-5′,5′-difluoro-2′,3′-dehydro-3′-deoxy- carbocyclic thymidine: a difluoromethylidene analogue of promising anti-HIV agent Ed4T

Synthesis of (±)-4′-ethynyl-5′,5′-difluoro-2′,3′-dehydro-3′-deoxy-carbocyclic-thymidine (8) was carried out. The difluoromethylylidene group of 8 was constructed by the electrophilic fluorination to the cyclopentenone 11 by using Selectfluor®. Introduction of thymine base was investigated based on the Mitsunobu reaction by employing cyclopentenyl allyl alcohols variously substituted at the 4-position. It was found the 4-methoxycarbonyl derivative 14 gave the highest selectivity both in terms of regio- and stereochemistry.