A general and efficient route to 3′-deoxy-3′-N-, S-, and C-substituted altropyranosyl thymines from 2′,3′-O-anhydro-mannopyranosylthymine

An efficient route to 1-(2,3-O-anhydro-4,6-O-phenylmethylene-β-d-mannopyranosyl) thymine from 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-O-tosyl-β-d-glucopyranose has been devised. This newly synthesized epoxide is opened up regioselectively at the C-3′-position by N-, S-, and C-nucleophiles to afford a wide range of new 3′-deoxy-3′-substituted altropyranosyl thymines.