Co- and homocyclotrimerization reactions of protected 1-alkynyl-2-deoxyribofuranose. Synthesis of C-nucleosides, C-di- and C-trisaccharide analogues

Cyclotrimerization of β- or α-ethynyl-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-2-deoxy-d-ribofuranose with α,ω-diynes proceeded smoothly under Rh-catalysis to afford the corresponding β- or α-benzene C-nucleoside derivatives. Analogous co-cyclotrimerization of α- or β-propynyl- and -phenylethynyl-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-2-deoxy-d-ribofuranose with α,ω-diynes gave the corresponding arene derivatives only under microwave irradiation in the presence of a Rh-catalyst in moderate yields. Attempted homocyclotrimerization of β- or α-ethynyl-3,5-di-O-toluoyl-2-deoxy-d-ribofuranose under Rh-catalysis led only to enynes while the use of Ru-catalyst gave the desired 1,2,4- and 1,3,5-tri-(2-deoxyribofuranose-1-yl)benzene.