5'-Benzoyl-2'α'-bromo-3'-O-methanesulfonylthymidine: A Superior Nucleoside for the Synthesis of the Anti-Aids Drug D4T (Stavudine).

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(95)01752-4

The anti-AIDS drug d4T is prepared in 75percent overall yiled starting from the readily available ribonucleoside 5-methyluridine (1).The key step in this new synthesis is the zinc-induced reductive elimination of the bromomesylate 4, which affords d4T without nucleoside bond cleavage.A facile procedure for the deprotection/isolation of this highly water soluble product is also described.