Synthesis of 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′,4′-dihydroxymethyl substituted pyrimidine nucleoside analogues

Some 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′,4′-dihydroxymethyl nucleoside analogues have been synthesised using an aldol condensation followed by in situ cross Canizzaro reduction in order to introduce the 4′-hydroxymethyl group. Glycosylation using silylated pyrimidine bases furnished the 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′,4′-dihydroxymethyl nucleoside analogues.