Synthesis of 2′,3′-Didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyisoinosine and Oxidation of Fluorescent 2-Hydroxypurine Nucleosides by Xanthine Oxidase

Abstract

The syntheses of 2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyisoinosine (d4isoI, 4) as well as 7-deaza-2′,3′-didehydro-2′,3′-dideoxyisoinosine (d4c₇isoI, 5) are described. Compounds 4 and 5 show both strong fluorescence. Compound 4 is oxidized by xanthine oxidase to give the corresponding xanthine 2′,3′-dideoxy-2′,3′-didehydronucleosides. A preparative chemo-enzymatic synthesis of 2′-deoxyxanthosine (3) is described.