Synthesis of the Phosphoramidite Derivative of 2‘-Deoxy-2‘-C-β-methylcytidine

2‘-Deoxy-2‘-C-β-methylnucleosides elicit interest as potential therapeutic agents and as analogues for the analysis of nucleic acid structure and function. An efficient route for the synthesis of 2‘-deoxy-2‘-C-methyluridine (11), 2‘-deoxy-2‘-C-methylcytidine (12), and the phosphoramidite derivative of 2‘-deoxy-2‘-C-β-methylcytidine (10, 46% overall yield) from 1,2,3,5-tetra-O-benzoyl-2-C-β-methylribofuranose (1) is described.