A novel one-step procedure for the conversion of thymidine into 2,3′-anhydrothymidine
Abstract
2,3′-Anhydrothymidine (3) is obtained in ca. 65% yield by heating thymidine (2) with an excess of diphenyl sulphite in dimethylacetamide solution; (3) reacts with lithium azide to give 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine [AZT, (1)] in good yield.