A program to synthesize fluorinated D-ribose and fluorinated nucleosides was initiated with hopes of finding compounds of potential value as anticancer and/or antiviral agents. Our approach is illustrated by a simple and stereocontrolled synthesis of 2-deoxy-2, 2-difluoro-~- ribose. This was followed with the synthesis of a series of l-(2-deoxy-2, 2-difluororibo~ anosyl) pyrimidjne nucleoeidea.(R)-2, 3-O-Isopropylideneglyceraldehyde was coupled ...
