New methodology for 2-alkylation of 3-furoic acids: Application to the synthesis of tethered UC-781/d4T bifunctional HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitors
New methodology for 2-alkylation of 3-furoic acids is presented involving Wittig reactions of the 3-methoxycarbonyl-2-furanylmethylphosphonium salt. The methodology has been used to prepare a tethered 2-alkylated-UC-781/d4T conjugate as a potentially new type of HIV reverse-transcriptase inhibitor.