Highly Efficient Synthesis of Conformationally Fixed Bicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl Nucleosides with an Ethenyl Group at C3'-Position as Potential Antiviral Agents

Synthesis of north-5'-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl adenine and hypoxanthine nucleosides with an ethenyl group at C3' position was successfully achieved by a highly facile method. Methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexanone (${\pm}$)-7 with three contiguous chiral centers and its epimer (${\pm}$)-6 was remarkably simply constructed only by four steps involving a carbenoid insertion reaction in the presence of rhodium (II) acetate dimer as a metal catalyst, giving a correct relative stereochemistry of the generated three chiral centers. Due to steric hindrance from the concave face of the bicyclo[3.1.0]hexanone system, a Grignard reaction of (${\pm}$)-7 with ethenylmagnesium bromide showed exclusive diastereoselectivity towards the b-face. The Grignard reaction chemoselectively proceeded without reacting with ester functionality. Coupling reaction of glycosyl donor (${\pm}$)-11 with 6-chloropurine nucleobase afforded only the desired $N^9$-alkylated nucleoside without the formation of $N^7$-regioisomer. By the conventional method, 6-chloro group was converted into 6-amino and 6-hydroxy groups to give the desired adenine and hypoxanthine bicyclo[3.1.0]hexyl carbanucleosides with 3'-ethenyl group, respectively.