Abstract
The synthesis of methyl 5-O-benzoyl-2,3-oxazole-D-ribofuranoside, a tetrahydrofuro [3,4-d]oxazole is described. The key step involves the reaction of methyl 3-amino-3-deoxy-5-O-benzoyl-D-ribofuranoside with N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal with cyclisation to the 2,3-oxazole via a prototropic rearrangement-elimination reaction.