A new method for synthesis of 2-alkoxyadenosine analogs

Article abstract of DOI:10.3987/COM-11-12295

O⁶-Methylguanosine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine riboside derivative were treated with isoamylnitrite in the presence of an appropriate alcohol to give the corresponding 2-alkoxy-6-methoxy (or chloro) purine riboside derivatives.

Full text of DOI:10.3987/COM-11-12295

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
2299
HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011, pp. 2299 - 2311. © 2011 The Japan Institute of Heterocyclic Chemistry
Received, 30th June, 2011, Accepted, 25th July, 2011, Published online, 3rd August, 2011
DOI: 10.3987/COM-11-12295
A NEW METHOD FOR SYNTHESIS OF 2-ALKOXYADENOSINE
ANALOGS
Norikazu Sakakibara, Takashi Tsuruta, Masahiro Komatsu, Masatoshi Iwai,
and Tokumi Maruyama*
*Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Kagawa Campus, Tokushima Bunri
University, 1314-1 Shido, Sanuki City, Kagawa, 769-2193, Japan
maruyama@kph.bunri-u.ac.jp
Abstract – O6-Methylguanosine and 2-amino-6-chloropurine riboside derivative
were treated with isoamylnitrite in the presence of an appropriate alcohol to give
the corresponding 2-alkoxy-6-methoxy (or chloro) purine riboside derivatives.
Adenosine derivatives comprising 2-alkoxyadenosine groups that have an alkoxy group at the 2-position
of the purine moiety are known worldwide for their prominent bioactivity. For instance,
2-methoxyadenosine, commonly known as spongosine, was isolated from the Caribbean sponge,
Cryptotethia crypta, in 1951,1 and it has been reported to possess antiviral activity2 and antiplatelet
properties3 and furthermore has been used in pain therapy4 and in treating B-cell proliferative diseases.5
Additionally, many of the 2-alkoxyadenosine derivatives, including spongosine, are potent and selective
agonists at the coronary artery A2 adenosine receptor.6-8 Therefore, because of the above-stated attributes,
the de novo synthesis of 2-alkoxyadenosine analog(s) containing spongosine has been carried out by
various research institutions.
Nair and co-workers developed a synthetic approach for generating 2-benzyloxyadenosine derivatives. In
their approach, methylthiolation of the 2-position in 2-iodoadenosine derivatives occurs, and then
oxidation with oxone gives a methylsulfonyl group, followed finally by benzyloxydation at the 2-position
by using sodium benzyloxide.9,10 By applying this method, Ojha and co-workers have synthesized
spongosine.3 A nucleophilic substitution approach was adopted by Savory and colleagues to synthesize
spongosine, in which 6-chloro-2-nitropurine riboside was treated with sodium methoxide to give a
2,6-dimethoxy derivative, which then reacted with an ammonia solution.11 On the other hand, Adachi and
co-workers reported that the 2-amino-6-chloropurine riboside derivative was converted to
6-chloro-2-hydroxypurine riboside, and the reaction of the hydroxyl group at the 2-position in the purine

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
skeleton with various alkyl iodides was carried out in the presence of cesium carbonate to give
2-alkoxy-6-chloropurine riboside, followed by amination at the 6-position by using a solution of saturated
ammonia in ethanol that afforded 2-alkoxyadenosine derivatives.12 Ueeda et al. obtained
2-alkoxyadenosine derivatives by the reaction of 2-chloroadesnosine derivatives with lithium alkoxide,
which was produced by alkyl alcohol treated with butyl lithium.8 Recently, Wannar and colleagues
developed the effective synthetic approach for 2-methoxyadenosine, viz., spongosine, in which
penta-acetylated adenosine was nitrated with tetrabutylammonium nitrite to give 2-nitroadenosine analog,
followed by the methoxylation at the 2-position in the purine system with the use of potassium cyanide in
methanol, providing the spongosine.13
All of the abovementioned syntheses of 2-alkoxyadenosine introduce the primary or secondary alkoxy
group into the 2-position of the purine nucleoside analogs, and there have been no reports, to date,
concerning 2-tertiary alkoxy-substituted adenosine analogs. Moreover, past researches have shown that
the synthesis of 2-alkoxyadenosine analogs requires multiple steps, or products with low yield are
formed; hence, many synthetic issues remain to be improved. This background prompted us to explore
the de novo synthesis of 2-alkoxyadenosine analogs, many of which result in physiologically active
substances. Previously, the purin-2-ylcarboxylate was synthesized in our laboratory using the
O6-methylguanosine derivative treated with sodium nitrite or isoamyl nitrite in the presence of carboxylic
acid.14,15 In addition, Huisgen et al. reported that 2-amino-1-methylnaphthalene was treated with ethyl
nitrite in the presence of ethanol or acetic acid solution to give the corresponding 2-ethoxy- (or
2-acetoxy-) 1-methylnaphthalene, respectively.16 Herein, by applying these methods to the alkoxylation at
the 2-position in purine nucleoside analogs, we develop a one-pot de novo synthesis for the conversion of
the 2-amino group in 2-amino-6-chloropurine riboside (2) or 2-amino-6-methoxypurine riboside (3) to the
2-alkoxy group, via nonaqueous diazotization–dediazoniation reactions. Furthermore, the synthetic
process was exploited in the synthesis of 2-methoxyadenosine (spongosine), which was prepared in high
yields and short steps.
Conversion of 2-amino group into 2-alkoxy group
As previously reported, 2-amino-6-chloropurine riboside (2) was synthesized from guanosine (1) in 4
steps, followed by conversion into 2-amino-6-methoxypurine riboside (3).15,17 First of all, compound 2
was treated with isoamyl nitrite in the presence of MeOH to give the corresponding derivatives 4a and 4b
in 12% and 77% yields, respectively, and 5 in 3% yield as the by-product (Table 1, entry 1). The
1
structures of 4a, 4b, and 5 were identified by HRMS (ESI) and H NMR spectra, in which the
characteristic absorptions due to TBS, methoxy, and amino groups were observed. As a result, compound
4b was 5′-desilylated nucleoside; in addition, the by-product 5 has been proven to be the 5′-desilylated

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
2301
product of starting material (2). As to the selective elimination of 5’-TBS group, de Fallois et al. have
reported that treating 3’,5’-disilyl-arabinouridine under basic conditions such as KOH/EtOH or
K2CO3/MeOH results in selective 5’-desilylation.18 Whereas also in our reactive conditions, the reaction
of nucleoside analogs, which have an amino group at the 2-position, with isoamyl nitrite to give the
diazonium salts and the corresponding isoamyl alkoxide ions. It appears that theses alkoxide ions allow
the nucleophilic attack of the silicon of the 5’-TBS group which is the least sterically hindered TBS
group.
O
Cl
OMe
N
N
N
N
N
N
NH
N
N
4 steps
NaOMe
Re f.15
N
NH2
N
NH2
N
NH2
HO
Ref.15,16
TBSO
TBSO
O
O
O
2
3
1
OH
OH
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
Scheme 1. Synthesis of 6-subsituted 2-aminopurine nucleosides (2 and 3)
In a similar way in ethanol, compound 2 was treated with isoamyl nitrite to give the 2-ethoxylated
compound 4c in 55% yield and its 5′-desilylated derivative 4d in 43% yield. Interestingly, the
5′-desilylated compound is hardly obtained using n-butanol, whereas the trisilylated derivative 4e is
obtained in 73% yield. In isopropanol, compound 4f formed with 74% yield, and in addition,
1,3-dihydro-2H-purin-2-one analog (6) is the by-product with 14% yield (Table 1, entry 4). In t-butanol,
production of by-product 6 increases to 37% yield (Table 1, entry 5). The decreased yield of the 2-alkoxy
analog and the increased yield of the by-product 6 in the presence of bulky alcohols can be explained as
follows: the formation of the intermediate diazonium salt results in water production. When secondary or
tertiary alcohols are used, it is expected that some water molecules react at the 2-position of nucleoside
analogs. The reaction with bulky alcohols has to overcome large steric hindrances, while water molecules
are less sterically hindered compared with bulky alcohols such as isopropanol, n-butanol and t-butanol;
therefore increaseing yield of xanthosine derivatives. The 6-methoxy analog (3) showed the same trend as
the 6-chloro nucleoside (2); in methanol, the 5′-desilylated substance 7b was obtained as the main product
in 70% yield while also giving the trisilylated derivative 7a in 29% yield (Table 2, entry 1). In ethanol, 7c
was acquired with 84% yield (Table 2, entry 2), and in the presence of other alcohols, except for methanol,
compound 3 was alkoxylated to give the corresponding compound without undergoing 5′-desilylation. In
t-butanol, corresponding 2-t-butoxy derivative (7f) was obtained in 43% yield (Table 2, entry 5). To the
best of our knowledge, this is the first example in which 2-t-butoxylated nucleosides (4g, 7f) were first
synthesized by the intoroduction of t-butoxy group into the nucleoside analogs at the 2-position in the
purine skeleton.

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
Table 1. 2-Alkoxylation of 2 with alcohols
Cl
N
Cl
Cl
Cl
R1OH
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
5.0 eq iAm ONO ,
N
N
N
N
NH2
N
H
O
N
OR1
N
NH2
50 °C
TBSO
R2O
HO
TBSO
O
O
O
O
2
5
6
4
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
entry
solvent
product(s) and yield(s)
reaction time
by-product and yield
5: 3%
R1 = Me
R1 = Et
4a (R2 = TBS): 12 % and 4b (R2 = H): 77%
4c (R2 = TBS): 55% and 4d (R2 = H): 43%
4e (R2 = H): 73%
1 day
1 day
1 day
1
2
R1 = n-Bu
R1 = i-Pr
R1 = t-Bu
3
4
5
4f (R2 = TBS): 74%
1 day
2.5 h
6: 14%
6: 37%
4g (R2 = TBS): 37%
Table 2. 2-Alkoxylation of 3 with alcohols
OMe
OMe
OMe
N
R1OH
N
N
N
N
N
5.0 eq iAmONO,
N
N
N
N
NH2
N
7
OR1
N
H
O
50 °C
TBSO
R2O
TBSO
O
O
O
3
8
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
TBSO
OTBS
entry
solvent
product(s) and yield(s)
reaction time by-product and yield
2 days
1
2
R1 = Me
R1 = Et
7a (R2 = TBS): 29% and 7b (R2 = H): 70%
7c (R2 = TBS): 84%
2 days
8: 15%
8: 21%
7d (R2 = TBS): 67%
7e (R2 = TBS): 63%
3
4
R1 = n-Bu
3 days
5 days
8: 18% and 3 (SM rec.):15%
8: 36%
R = Pr
i-
1
5
7f (R2 = TBS): 43%
4 days
R1 = t-Bu
Discussion of the reaction mechanism for 2-alkoxylation
The reaction mechanism to obtain the 2-alkoxy (4a–g, 7a–f) and xanthosine analogs (6, 8) proceeds in the
following three manners (Chart 1, Path 1-3);14,15 in the presence of isoamyl nitrite, compound 2 or 3
underwent substitution as in the case for the Sandmeyer reaction, to give the corresponding diazonium
salt (Ia) as the reaction intermediate (Chart 1).19 Intermediate Ia was converted to Ib by
resonance-stabilized electron delocalization. The diazo group at the 2-position of the compound Ia
undergoes nucleophilic attack by water, alcohol or alkoxide ions which were generated by alcohol (Path

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
2303
1). Another possible mechanism for substitution involves unimolecular thermal decomposition of the
diazonium ion, followed by capture of the resulting purinyl cation Ic by the nucleophile (Path 2). The
alkoxylated reaction of compound 3 series have a slower reaction rate (Table 2, 2~5 days) in comparison
with compound 2 series (Table 1, 2.5 h ~ 1 day). The difference of the reaction rate among compounds (2
and 3 series) can be explained as follows: In the 6-methoxylated compound 3, the reactive intermediate Ic
(X = OMe) may be more stabilized by the resonance effect due to electron-releasing nature than Ic (X =
Cl). Hence, reaction barriers for resonance-stabilized purinyl carbocation Ic (X = OMe) was affected by
the thermodynamic changes, however, additional contributions to the barriers arised from increased
Marcus intrinsic barriers for reaction resulting mainly from the breaking of partial -bonds to the
carbocationic carbon atom at the transition state.20 On the other hand, Rayat et al. suggested that the
reaction mechanism proceeded via a cyanoimine intermediate, because oxanosine as well as xanthosine
were obtained when guanosine was treated with sodium nitrite solution, and their theory was based on a
18
variety of experimental results with the use of the stable isotope compound, H2 O.21 Hence, it appears
that Ia was converted to the nitrogen eliminated-intermediate Ic, followed by the production of
cyanoimine intermediate Id (Path 3). Taken together, alcohol or alkoxide ions were obtained in the
2-alkoxylated derivatives (4 and 7 series) by nucleophilic substitution reactions of intermediates Ia, Ib,
and (or) Id. When the intermediates react with water molecules, compounds 6 and 8 were obtained.
Path 1
- N2
H2O
X
X
X
X
N
X
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
- N2
N
H2O
N
N
N
N
Path 2
N
N
H
O
N
NH2
N
N
N
N
N
6 (X = Cl),
Rf(TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
Rf (TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
8 (X = OMe)
Ib
Ia
Ic
2: X = Cl
3: X = OMe
RO H/RO-
- N2
- H
ROH/RO-
Path 1
Path 2
X
N
X
X
X
C
C
N
C
ROH/RO-
Path 3
H2O
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
NH
N
NH2
O
N
N
Path 3
OR
OR
N
N
4 (X = Cl) and
7 (X = OMe) series
Id: cyanoimine
intermediate
Rf (TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
Rf(TBS)3
Ie
If
Chart 1. Possible reaction mechanism for the formation of 4 and 7series along with by-products 6 and 8
De novo synthesis of spongosine
First, compound 4b or 7b was treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride to give the desilylated product
9a or 9b, respectively. The next step involving the ammonolysis reaction in a sealed tube in the presence

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
of methanol produced the target material 2-methoxyadenosine, namely, spongosine (10) in 42% yield,
while for 2,6-dimethoxylated compound 9b, the resulting spongosine (10) was obtained in 70% yield
according to Savory’s method using methanolic ammonia solution.11
X
X
NH2
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
N
OMe
N
OMe
N
OMe
ii
i
HO
HO
HO
O
O
O
4b: X=Cl
7b: X=OMe
9a: X=Cl
9b: X=OMe
10: spongosine
OH
TBSO
OTBS
OH
OH
OH
Reagents and cond itions: i, TBAF in THF, rt, 40 min; ii, liq. NH3, MeOH, 120 C, 1 d
Scheme 2. Synthesis of 2-methoxyadenosine (spongosine: 10)
CONCLUSION
We developed a method for converting the 2-amino group bound to purine nucleoside analogs into the
corresponding 2-alkoxylated compounds, in only one step. Our method involves a replacement reaction
under mild conditions, compared with previous reports in which the 2-amino group was replaced by a
2-halogeno group, followed by nucleophilic substitution of the halogeno group with the alkoxide. It is
also noteworthy that, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported synthesis of 2-tertiary
alkoxylation to obtain the corresponding 2-tertiarybutoxy analogs. By using long-chain alcohols, the
2-alkoxylation reaction tends to be less reactive and by-product can be obtained in moderate yield.
Further research is necessary on the effective synthesis of 2-alkoxyladesnosine analogs.
EXPERIMENTAL
Instrumentation
1H NMR spectra were taken with a UltrashieldTM 400 Plus FT NMR System (BRUKER). Chemical shifts
and coupling constants (J) were given in  and Hz, respectively. High-resolution mass spectrometry was
performed on a APEX IV mass spectrometer (BRUKER) with electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy
(ESI-MS).
6-Chloro-2-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4c: R1
TBS) and 6-chloro-2-methoxy-9-(2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4d:
R1 = H)
=
Compound 2 (161.1 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry MeOH (4.0 mL), and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
2305
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 1 day at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give oil (4a: 19.8 mg, 0.03 mmol, 12%, 4b: 101.9 mg, 0.19 mmol, 77% and 5: 3.9 mg, 3%). 4a: R1 =
TBS: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.25 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.95 (1 H, d, J = 5.2, H-1’), 4.40 (1 H, m, H-2’),
4.19 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.03 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.95 (3 H, s, 2-OMe), 3.88 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 3.2, H-5’a),
3.69 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 0.86 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.83 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.70 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.05 (3
H, s, TBS), 0.04 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.13 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.33 (3 H, s,
1
TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C29H56ClN4O5Si3 [M+H]+: 659.32415. Found 659.32380. 4b: R1 = H: H
NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.03 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.80 (1 H, d, J = 7.6, H-1’), 5.41 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4,
5’-OH), 4.93 (1 H, dd, J = 7.6 and 4.8, H-2’), 4.33 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.16 (1 H, m, H-4’), 4.09 (3 H, s,
2-OMe), 3.97 (1 H, m, H-5’a), 3.73 (1 H, m, H-5’b), 0.95 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.77 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.13 (3 H, s,
TBS), 0.12 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.10 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.55 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for
C23H41ClN4NaO5Si2 [M+Na]+: 567.21962. Found 567.21509. 5: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  7.81 (1 H,
s, H-8), 6.02 (1 H, d, J = 11.2, 5’-OH), 5.72 (1 H, d, J = 8.0, H-1’), 5.17 (2 H, s, 2-NH2), 4.92 (1 H, dd, J
= 8.0 and 4.8, H-2’), 4.30 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.17 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.93 (1 H, m, H-5’a), 3.70 (1 H, m, H-5’b),
0.95 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.78 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.14 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.12 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.10 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.52
(3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C22H41ClN5O4Si2 [M+H]+: 530.23801. Found 530.23830.
6-Chloro-2-ethoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4c: R1 = TBS)
and 6-chloro-2-ethoxy-9-(2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4d: R1 = H)
Compound 2 (161.1 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry EtOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 1 day at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give tri-TBS analogue (4c) as oil (91.8 mg, 0.14 mmol, 55%). Evaporation of the second fraction gave
1
bis-TBS analogue (4d) as oil (60.6 mg, 0.11 mmol, 43%). 4c:R1 = TBS: H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3): 
8.34 (1 H, s, H-8), 6.05 (1 H, d, J = 5.6, H-1’), 4.53 (1 H, m, H-2’), 4.42-4.52 (2 H, m, 2-OEt), 4.30 (1 H,
m, H-3’), 4.13 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.99 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 3.6, H-5’a), 3.81 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 2.4,
H-5’b), 1.46 (3 H, t, J = 6.8, 2-OEt), 0.97 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.94 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.79 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.16 (3 H,
s, TBS), 0.15 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.12 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.11 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.03 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.24 (3 H, s,
TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C30H57ClN4NaO5Si3 [M+Na]+: 695.32175. Found 695.32141. 4d: R1 = H:
1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.03 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.79 (1 H, d, J = 7.6, H-1’), 4.93 (1 H, dd, J = 7.6 and
4.8, H-2’), 4.50 (2 H, q, J = 7.2, 2-OEt), 4.33 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.16 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.97 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8
and 1.6, H-5’a), 3.72 (1 H, m, H-5’b), 1.45 (3 H, t, J = 7.2, 2-OEt), 0.95 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.77 (9 H, s, TBS),

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
0.17 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.16 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.07 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.52 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for
C24H43ClN4NaO5Si2 [M+Na]+: 581.23527. Found 581.23015.
6-Chloro-2-butoxy-9-(2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4e)
Compound 2 (161.1 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry n-BuOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4
mg, 1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 1 day at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (33% AcOEt in hexane) to
give oil (107.0 mg, 0.18 mmol, 73%). 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  7.98 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.78 (1 H, d, J =
7.6, H-1’), 4.96 (1 H, dd, J = 7.6 and 4.4, H-2’), 4.43 (2 H, m, 2-OBu), 4.30 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.16 (1 H, m,
H-4’), 3.95 (1 H, m, H-5’a), 3.72 (1 H, m, H-5’b), 1.81 (2 H, m, 2-OBu), 1.51 (2 H, m, 2-OBu), 0.98 (3 H,
t, J = 7.6, 2-OBu), 0.96 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.76 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.12 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.11 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.10 (3
H, s, TBS), -0.55 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C26H47ClN4NaO5Si2 [M+Na]+: 609.26657. Found
609.26495.
6-Chloro-2-isopropoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4f) and
6-chloro-1,9-dihydro-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2H-purin-2-one (6)
Compound 2 (161.1 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry iPrOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 1 day at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 4f as oil (126.5 mg, 0.19 mmol, 74%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 6 as oil (22.5 mg, 0.04
mmol, 14%). 4f: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.31 (1 H, s, H-8), 6.06 (1 H, d, J = 5.6, H-1’), 5.34 (1 H,
septet, J = 6.0, 2-O-iPr), 4.52 (1 H, m, H-2’), 4.29 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.12 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.97 (1 H, dd, J =
11.2 and 3.6, H-5’a), 3.80 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 1.41 (6 H, d, J = 6.4, 2-O-iPr), 0.98 (9 H, s,
TBS), 0.94 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.80 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.16 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.15 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.11 (6 H, s, TBS),
-0.22 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.27 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C31H59ClN4NaO5Si3 [M+Na]+:
709.33740. Found 709.33540. 6: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.34 (1 H, s, H-8), 6.07 (1 H, d, J = 6.0,
H-1’), 4.56 (1 H, dd, J = 6.0 and 4.4, H-2’), 4.27 (1 H, dd, J = 4.4 and 2.8, H-3’), 4.14 (1 H, m, H-4’),
4.01 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 3.2, H-5’a), 3.80 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 2.4, H-5’b), 0.97 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.93
(9 H, s, TBS), 0.80 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.17 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.16 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.10 (6 H, s, TBS), -0.04 (3 H, s,
TBS), -0.25 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C28H53ClN4NaO5Si3 [M+Na]+: 667.29045. Found
667.28795.
2-tert-Butoxy-6-chloro-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (4g) and

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6-chloro-1,9-dihydro-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2H-purin-2-one (6)
Compound 2 (161.1 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry t-BuOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4
mg, 1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 1 day at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 4g as oil (64.9 mg, 0.09 mmol, 37%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 6 as oil (59.7 mg, 0.09
mmol, 37%). 4g: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.09 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.97 (1 H, d, J = 6.8, H-1’), 4.36 (1 H,
dd, J = 6.8 and 4.4, H-2’), 4.27 (1 H, dd, J = 4.4 and 1.6, H-3’), 3.94 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.76 (1 H, dd, J =
11.2 and 3.2, H-5’a), 3.64 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 1.51 (9 H, s, t-Bu), 0.82 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.80
(9 H, s, TBS), 0.57 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.04 (6 H, s, TBS), -0.23 (3 H,
s, TBS), -0.47 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C32H61ClN4NaO5Si3 [M+Na]+: 723.35305. Found.
723.35348
2,6-Dimethoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine
2,6-dimethoxy-9-(2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (7b)
(7a)
and
Compound 3 (160.0 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry MeOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 2 days at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 7a as oil (47.3 mg, 0.07 mmol, 29%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 7b as oil (94.6 mg, 0.18
mmol, 70%). 7a: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.10 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.88 (1 H, d, J = 4.8, H-1’), 4.36 (1 H,
m, H-2’), 4.17 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.00 (3 H, s, OMe), 3.97 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.87 (3 H, s, OMe), 3.86 (1 H, dd,
J = 11.2 and 4.0, H-5’a), 3.67 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 0.81 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.78 (9 H, s, TBS),
0.67 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.02 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.04 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.06 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.17
(3 H, s, TBS), -0.31 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C30H58N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+: 677.35564. Found
677.35163. 7b: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  7.76 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.64 (1 H, d, J = 7.6, H-1’), 4.85 (1 H,
dd, J = 7.6 and 4.8, H-2’), 4.20 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.07 (3 H, s, OMe), 4.02 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.92 (3 H, s,
OMe), 3.84 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8 and 2.0, H-5’a), 3.59 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8 and 1.2, H-5’b), 0.83 (9 H, s, TBS),
0.64 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.23 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.671 (3 H, s, TBS);
HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C24H44N4NaO6Si2 [M+Na]+: 563.26916. Found 563.26782.
2-Ethoxy-6-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (7c) and
1,9-dihydro-6-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2H-purin-2-one (8)
Compound 3 (160.0 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry EtOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 2 days at 50 C. The mixture was

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HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 7c as oil (140.8 mg, 0.21 mmol, 84%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 8 as oil (24.0 mg, 0.04
mmol, 15%). 7c: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.06 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.87 (1 H, d, J = 4.8, H-1’), 4.39 (1 H,
m, H-2’), 4.25-4.35 (2 H, m, 2-OEt), 4.18 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.02 (3 H, s, 6-OMe), 3.97 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.86
(1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 4.0, H-5’a), 3.68 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 1.32 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.82 (9 H, s,
TBS), 0.79 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.03 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.05 (3 H, s, TBS),
-0.16 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.32 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C31H50N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+: 691.37129.
Found 691.36924. 8: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  7.44 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.69 (1 H, d, J = 7.6, H-1’), 4.46
(1 H, dd, J = 8.0 and 4.8, H-2’), 4.05 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.03 (1 H, m, H-4’), 4.02 (3 H, s, 6-OMe), 3.93 (1 H,
dd, J = 11.6 and 2.4, H-5’a), 3.77 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 1.6, H-5’b), 0.91 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.85 (9 H, s,
TBS), 0.66 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.18 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.12 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.09 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS),
-0.16 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.50 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C29H56N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+: 663.33999.
Found 663.33790.
2-n-Butoxy-6-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (7d)
Compound 3 (160.0 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry n-BuOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4
mg, 1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 3 days at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 7d as oil (116.6 mg, 0.17 mmol, 67%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 8 as oil (33.7 mg, 0.05
mmol, 21%). 7d: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.07 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.87 (1 H, d, J = 4.8, H-1’), 4.35 (1 H,
m, H-2’), 4.17-4.27 (2 H, m, 2-OBu), 4.16 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.00 (3 H, s, 6-OMe), 3.96 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.85
(1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 4.0, H-5’a), 3.65 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.4, H-5’b), 1.63-1.72 (2 H, m, 2-OBu),
1.30-1.42 (2 H, m, 2-OBu), 1.83 (1 H, t, J = 7.6, 2-OBu), 0.83 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.77 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.67 (9
H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.04 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.06 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.17 (3 H, s,
TBS), -0.32 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C33H64N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+: 719.40259. Found
719.40006.
2-Isopropoxy-6-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (7e)
Compound 2 (160.0 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry iPrOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4 mg,
1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 5 days at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 7e as oil (116.6 mg, 0.17 mmol, 67%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 8 as oil (28.8 mg, 0.05
1
mmol, 18%), and third fraction was SM rec. (2) (24.0 mg, 0.04 mmol, 15%). 7e: H NMR (400MHz,

HETEROCYCLES, Vol. 83, No. 10, 2011
2309
CDCl3):  8.04 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.88 (1 H, d, J = 5.2, H-1’), 5.21 (1 H, septet, J 6.4, 2-O-iPr), 4.37 (1 H, m,
H-2’), 4.17 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.01 (3 H, s, 6-OMe), 3.98 (1 H, m, H-4’), 3.84 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 4.0,
H-5’a), 3.67 (1 H, dd, J = 11.6 and 2.4, H-5’b), 1.28 (6 H, d, J = 6.4, 2-O-iPr), 0.82 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.80 (9
H, s, TBS), 0.67 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.01 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.03 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.04 (3 H, s,
TBS), -0.19 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.32 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C32H62N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+:
705.38694. Found 705.38177.
2-tert-Butoxy-6-methoxy-9-(2,3,5-tri-O-tert-butyldimetylsilyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (7f)
Compound 2 (160.0 mg, 0.25 mmol) was dissolved in dry t-BuOH (4.0 mL) and isoamyl nitrite (146.4
mg, 1.25 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 C, and then stirred for 4 days at 50 C. The mixture was
evaporated, and the residue was purified by silica gel column chromatography (25% AcOEt in hexane) to
give 7f as oil (74.3mg, 0.11 mmol, 43%). Evaporation of second fraction gave 8 as oil (58.3 mg, 0.09
mmol, 36%). 7e: 1H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  7.95 (1 H, s, H-8), 5.93 (1 H, d, J = 6.8, H-1’), 4.39 (1 H,
dd, J = 6.4 and 4.4, H-2’), 4.14 (1 H, dd, J = 4.4 and 2.0, H-3’), 4.02 (1 H, s, 6-OMe), 3.97 (1 H, m, H-4’),
3.79 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 3.6, H-5’a), 3.66 (1 H, dd, J = 11.2 and 2.8, H-5’b), 1.55 (9 H, s, 2-O-tBui),
0.82 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.82 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.63 (9 H, s, TBS), 0.02 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.02 (3 H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3
H, s, TBS), 0.00 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.20 (3 H, s, TBS), -0.42 (3 H, s, TBS); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for
C33H64N4NaO6Si3 [M+Na]+: 719.40256. Found 719.40203.
6-Chloro-2-methoxy-9-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (9a)
Compound 4b (208.6 mg, 0.38 mmol) was dissolved in THF (5.0 mL), and 1.0 M tetrabutylammonium
fluoride-THF solution (3.0 mL) was added to the solution, and then stirred for 20 min at room temperature.
The mixture was evaporated, and was purified by silica gel column chromatography (17% MeOH in
1
CH2Cl2) to give crystals 9a (127.4 mg, 0.38 mmol, 100%). H NMR (400MHz, CDCl3):  8.21 (1 H, s,
H-8), 5.96 (1 H, d, J = 6.4, H-1’), 4.89 (1 H, dd, J = 6.4 and 5.2, H-2’), 4.52 (1 H, dd, J = 5.2 and 2.4,
H-3’), 4.29 (1 H, m, H-4’), 4.03 (3 H, s, 2-OMe), 3.95 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8 and 2.0, H-5’a), 3.81 (1 H, dd, J
12.8 and 1.6, H-5’b); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C11H13ClN4NaO5 [M+Na]+: 339.04667. Found 339.04409.
2,6-Dimethoxy-9-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-9H-purine (9b)
Compound 7b (166.8 mg, 0.31 mmol) was dissolved in THF (3.0 mL), and 1.0 M tetrabutylammonium
fluoride-THF solution (1.0 mL) was added to the solution, and then stirred for 40 min at room temperature.
The mixture was evaporated, and was purified by silica gel column chromatography (14% MeOH in
CH2Cl2) to give crystals 9b (47.1 mg, 0.12 mmol, 100%). 1H NMR (400MHz, MeOH-d4):  8.25 (1 H, s,

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H-8), 5.94 (1 H, d, J = 5.6, H-1’), 4.75 (1 H, m, H-2’), 4.38 (1 H, m, H-3’), 4.13 (1 H, m, H-4’), 4.10 (3 H,
s, OMe), 3.99 (3 H, s, OMe), 3.89 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8 and 2.8, H-5’a), 3.77 (1 H, dd, J = 12.8 and 3.2,
H-5’b); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for C12H16N4NaO6 [M+Na]+: 335.09621. Found 335.09400.
2-Methoxyadenosine (Spongosine: 9)
Method A) Compound 9a (120.0 mg, 0.38 mmol) was dissolved in NH3 (2.0 mL)/MeOH (5.0 mL), and
then sealed and stirred for 1 d at 100 C. The mixture was evaporated, and the residue was purified by
silica gel column chromatography (25% MeOH in CHCl3) to give crystals (47.3 mg, 0.16 mmol, 42%).
Method B) Compound 9b (624.5 mg, 2.00 mmol) was dissolved in NH3 (5.0 mL)/MeOH (12.0 mL), and
then sealed and stirred for 1 d at 120 C. The mixture was evaporated, and the residue was purified by
silica gel column chromatography (17% MeOH in CHCl3) to give crystals (416.0 mg, 1.40 mmol, 70%).
1H NMR (400MHz, DMSO-d6):  7.90 (1 H, s, H-8), 7.09 (2 H, brs, NH2), 5.54 (1 H, d, J = 6.4, H-1’),
5.16 (1 H, d, J = 6.4, OH), 4.89-4.98 (2 H, m, OH  2), 4.38 (1 H, m, H-2’), 3.90 (1 H, m, H-3’), 3.68 (1 H,
m, H-4’), 3.58 (3 H, s, 2-OMe), 3.41 (1 H, m, H-5’a), 3.29 (1 H, m H-5’b); HRMS (ESI) Calcd for
C11H15N5NaO5 [M+Na]+: 320.09654. Found 320.09424.
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