6-Alkynylated uridines, a hitherto unknown class of compounds, were synthesized by a coupling reaction of terminal alkynes with 6-iodo-2', 3'-O-isopropylidene-5'-O- methoxymethyluridine in the presence of bis (triphenylphosphine) palladium (II) chloride and copper (I) iodide. 6-Ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine was also prepared by using 6-iodo-3', 5'-O-( tetraisopropyldisiloxan-1, 3-diyl)-2'-deoxyuridine as a starting material.
