The synthesis of epoxides 3, 4 and 6 has been described. The transformation of 3 into C-6 alkylated uracils 22a–e, 23a–d, 24 and 25 is also reported. The chiral epoxide (S)-(+)-3 has been prepared via a modified Solladiè procedure, while the ZnCl2-DIBAH reduction step failed to give the expected enantiomer (R)-(−)-3. This result has been discussed on the ground of molecular modeling studies.
[Singleton, Daniel A.; Merrigan, Steven R.; Kim, Bong J.; Beak, Peter; Phillips, Linda M.; Lee, Jeehiun K. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2000 , vol. 122, # 14 p. 3296 - 3300]