Synthesis ofC6-Pyridylpurine Nucleosides by Reaction of NebularineN1-Oxide with Pyridinyl Grignard Reagents

A general synthesis of C6-pyridylpurine nucleosides is described. The reported synthetic procedure exploits the regioselective addition of pyridinyl Grignard reagents, obtained by bromine/magnesium exchange between mono- or dihalopyridines and iPrMgCl, to the C6–N1–O– moiety of nebularine N1-oxide. The regioselective transmetallation of unsymmetrical dihalopyridines with iPrMgCl allowed C6-halopyridylpurine nucleosides to be obtained through the addition of halopyridinyl Grignard reagents. The presence of a halogenated pyridine ring in these nucleosides allows for further useful synthetic transformations.