Abstract: Two short synthetic routes to the biosynthetic purine precursor 5-aminoimidazole ribonucleotide (AIR) based on catalytic reduction of 5-nitroimidazoles are described. The synthetic ribonucleoside AIRs, which is also available via one of these routes, is a convenient intermediate for the synthesis of nucleoside analogues and preparations of the novel" pyridine-stretched" analogues of adenosine and inosine are described. Key words: ...
