First ligand-free, microwave-assisted, Heck cross-coupling reaction in pure water on a nucleoside – application to the synthesis of antiviral BVDU

Abstract

For the first time, a palladium catalyzed Heck cross-coupling reaction between 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine and various acrylate derivatives was performed using ligand-free conditions and microwave assistance in pure water. Those new conditions allowed a totally aqueous access to antiviral BVDU in higher yield than that reported (56 vs. 31% for three steps).