SYNTHESIS OF A CARBORANYL NUCLEOSIDE FOR POTENTIAL USE IN NEUTRON-CAPTURE THERAPY OF CANCER

The reaction of 2′,3′-O-(dibutylstannylene)uridine (1) with 3-bromopropyne yielded 2′,(3′)-O-(3-propynyl)uridine (2 and 3). The mixture of 2 and 3 on acetylation followed by chromatographic purification yielded 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-O-(3-propynyl) uridine (4). Reaction of 4 with bis(acetonitrile)decaborane produced 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-O-(o-carboran-l-ylmethyl)uridine (5). Deacetylation of 5 gave 2′-O-(o-carboran-l-ylmethyl) uridine (6), a boronated nucleoside for potential use in neutron capture therapy of cancer. © 1990.