Abstract
A pair of epimeric thymidine-3′-yl benzoin phosphates 3 were produced from the ester exchange reaction of oxyphosphorane 1 with thymidine 2. Their structures were identified by using the 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectra. The chemical bonds between the ribose 3′-C and a-C atoms to the phosphoryl group were confirmed by 31P-′13C and 31P-1H spin-spin coupling. The stereosensitive three-bond coupling constants 3JP-c and 3JP-H in each diastereomer of 3 have been measured, and used for an estimation of trans and gauche conformational analysis. The relative estimated dihedral angle of P-O-C-H was discussed.