An expeditious synthesis of 3'-α-carboxymethyl-2'-O-methyl ribonucleosides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(99)00147-1

3'-α-Carboxymethyl-2'-O-methyl ribonucleosides, which are important building blocks for the construction of high affinity amide modified antisense oligonucleotides, have been synthesized from the corresponding 2'- O-methyl ribonucleosides via catalytic hydrogenation of their 3'-deoxy 3'- methoxycarbonyl-methylidene derivatives. Reduction of the olefinic double bond proceeds in good to excellent yields and with α/β-product ratios > 9/1.