Conversion of nucleosides into their 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy derivatives is currently an important topic in medicinal chemistry because the deoxygenated compounds or their hydrogenation products (2′, 3′-dideoxynucleosides) have been found, in certain cases, to inhibit the progress of HIV infection. 1 We have recently reported that conversion of 5′-O-protected nucleosides into the corresponding 2′, 3′-dimesylates, followed by ...
