Stereocontrolled synthesis of anthracene β-C-ribosides: fluorescent probes for photophysical studies of DNA

Effective, stereocontrolled syntheses of the 1-anthracenyl and 2-anthrancenyl β-C-2′-deoxyribosides are reported and were based on a diastereofacialselective, palladium-catalyzed glycosidation of the corresponding protected (4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-(hydroxymethyl)dihydrofuran.