Esters 9d–9g derived from acetylenic carbinol 5 were prepared and they were studied as potential alkylating agents with adenine (10), N6-benzoyl-and N6-dimethylamino- methyleneadenine (16 and 17). Carbonates 9f and 9g were the most suitable giving allene 11 and acetylene 12 (after N-deprotection in case of 16 and 17). On a scale larger than 0.2 mmol, slow addition of carbonate 9f or 9g to a solution of 10, 16 or 17 in DMF at 60° C was ...