One-pot carbanionic access to methylenebis(phosphonate) analogues of natural P1,P2-glycosyl-disubstituted pyrophosphates

Two novel lithiated carbanions derived from ethyl (1,2:3,4-diisopropylidene-α-d-galactopyranosyl) methyl phosphonate 3a and ethyl (1-O-methyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribofuranosyl) methylphosphonate 3b were used in the one-pot alkylidene diphosphorylation of 2,3-O-isopropylidene uridine or 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannofuranose to synthesise the methylenebis(phosphonate) analogues of natural P1,P2-glycosyl-disubstituted pyrophosphates.