Fluoro, Alkylsulfanyl, and Alkylsulfonyl Leaving Groups in Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions of Purine 2‘-Deoxynucleosides and Nucleosides^†

Protected 2‘-deoxynucleoside and nucleoside derivatives of 6-fluoropurine, 6-(3-methylbutyl)sulfanylpurine, and 6-(3-methylbutyl)ylsulfonylpurine undergo nickel- or palladium-mediated C−C cross-coupling with arylboronic acids to give good yields of 6-arylpurine products.