The first total synthesis of 5′-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl tubercidin was successfully developed. It is a structurally unique disaccharide 7-deazapurine nucleoside exhibiting fungicidal activity, and was isolated from blue-green algae. The total synthesis was accomplished in eight steps with 27% overall yield from commercially available 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-ribose. The key step involves stereoselective α-O-glycosylation of the corresponding 7-bromo-6-chloro-2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-β-d-tubercidin with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate. All spectra are in accordance with the reported data for natural 5′-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl tubercidin. Meanwhile, 5′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl tubercidin was also prepared using the same strategy.
