Synfacts 2008(12): 1293-1293  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087327
Metal-Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis and Stereoselective Reactions
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Application of an Enantioselective Cyclopentenone Synthesis

Contributor(s): Mark Lautens, Frédéric Ménard
A. Vázquez-Romero, J. Rodríguez, A. Lledó, X. Verdaguer*, A. Riera*
Universitat de Barcelona, Spain
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 November 2008 (online)

Significance

Analogues of nucleosides are of interest for their antiviral and antitumor activity. Previous syntheses of carbanucleosides relied on enzymatic and kinetic resolution, or on sugar chirons. Using a highly enantioselective Pauson-Khand reaction, the tricyclic intermediate 3 was obtained in enantiopure form. Subsequent straightforward transformations led to precursor 4 without loss of ee, which could be converted in two steps into either abacavir or carbovir.