A short and efficient synthesis of 2′-deoxybenzo- and pyridoimidazole C-nucleosides

A short route to a series of 2′-deoxy-C-nucleosides featuring substituted nucleobases has been developed. The key step is the formation of the cyclized products following Mukaiyamaʹs type amide coupling and a simple dehydration, starting from readily accessible synthons. The epimerization of the C1′-stereogenic center was avoided under mild and controlled conditions.