Synthesis of acyclic nucleoside analogues based on 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones by one-step Vorbrüggen glycosylation

New acyclovir analogues were obtained by reaction of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones 4a–i with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl acetate 5 in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) as catalyst (Vorbrüggen procedure). Coupling between compounds 4a–f and 5 led to a mixture of N3- and N4-isomers 6 and 7, respectively. On the contrary, the reaction of compounds 4g–i with 5 proceeded selectively with formation of N3-isomers only. It was found that the ratio of 6a–f and 7a–f depends on the presence or the absence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA). Glycosylated products 6a–f and 7a–f underwent reversible isomerization under TMSOTf treatment. The ratio of glycosylated products of the coupling reaction between 4 and 5 was thermodynamically controlled. A similar reaction occurred if ZnCl2 was chosen as a catalyst, although lower yields of the acyclic analogues of nucleosides were observed. The glycosylation of other purines (adenine and guanine) can be achieved via the non-BSA modification of the Vorbrüggen procedure.