Branched-chain amino sugars. stereospecific synthesis of 3-C-(2-acetamidoethyl)-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-l-lyxofuranose

Condensation of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-hexofuranos-3-ulose (1) with diethyl cyanomethylphosphonate afforded a mixture of the cis- and trans-3-cyanomethylene-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-hexofuranoses (2) in 80% yield. Catalytic reduction of 2 yielded 3-C-cyanomethyl-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gulofuranose (4) exclusively. Palladium and hydrogen was found to rearrange the exocyclic double bond of 2 to give the 3,4-ene (3). Catalytic reduction of 3 also proceeded stereospecifically to yield 4. Selective hydrolysis of 4 yielded the diol 5, which was cleaved with periodate and the product reduced with sodium borohydride to afford crystalline 3-C-cyanomethyl-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-l-lyxofuranose (6) in 87% yield. Catalytic reduction of the latter with hydrogen and platinum in the presence of acetic anhydride and ethanol gave the crystalline l-amino sugar, 3-C-(2-acetamidoethyl)-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-l-lyxofuranose (7) in 92% yield.     

Branched-chain glycosyl α-amino acids : Part II. Synthesis of 2-D- and 2-L-(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)glycine. Analogs of the sugar moiety of the polyoxins

Stereospecific hydroxylation of 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-trans-and 3-C-cis-(methoxycarbonylmethylene)-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (2 and 3, respectively), with potassium permanganate in pyridine afforded 3-C-[S- and R-hydroxy-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose, (6 and 7, respectively), in a combined yield, after chromatography, of 43%. Selective formation of monomethanesulfonates (9a and 10a) and p-toluenesulfonates (9b and 10b), followed by treatment with sodium azide and reduction of the azide, afforded the methyl 2-D-(and 2-L-)(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)-glycinates (12a and 13a, respectively). Basic hydrolysis of the latter compounds yielded 2-D- and 2-L-(3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranos-3-yl)glycine (12b and 13b, respectively). The structures of the glycosyl amino acids were correlated with that of L-alanine by circular dichroism.     

Synthesis of gem-di-C-substituted derivatives of carbohydrates by way of nucleophilic-addition reactions of aldohexofuranoid 3-C-methylene derivatives

Nucleophilic Michael-type additions to aldohexofuranoid 3-C-methylene derivatives, namely, 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-nitromethylene-α-d-ribo-hexofuranose and 3-C-[cyano(ethoxycarbonyl)methylene]-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-ribo-hexofuranose employing phase-transfer catalysis, afforded novel gem-di-C-substituted sugars. The conversion of 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-3-C-nitromethyl-α-d-allo-hexofuranose into a 3-C-hydroxymethyl-3-C-methyl derivative with titanium trichloride, and that of the nitromethyl groups of 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3,3-di-C-nitromethyl-α-d-ribo-hexofuranose, and 3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-3-C-nitromethyl- and -3-C-nitromethyl-α-d-allo-hexofuranose into cyano groups with phosphorus trichloride in pyridine is also described.     

An approach to the synthesis of branched-chain amino sugars from c-methylene sugars

The reaction of 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methylene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (4) with mercuric azide in hot 50% aqueous tetrahydrofuran yielded, after reductive demercuration, 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (5). Partial, acid hydrolysis of5 afforded the diol7, which gave 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5,6-di-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (8) on sulphonylation. On hydrogenation over a platinum catalyst and N-acetylation, the dimethanesulphonate 8 furnished 3,6-acetylepimino-3,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (9), which was also prepared by an analogous sequence of reactions on 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulphonyl-3-C-methyl-6-O-toluene-p-sulphonyl-α-D-glucofuranose (13). The formation of the N-acetylepimine 9 establishes the D-gluco configuration for 5.1,2-O-Isopropylidene-3-C-methylene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (20) reacted with mercuric azide in aqueous tetrahydrofuran at ≈85° to give 3,6-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-α-D-glucofuranose (22) as a result of intramolecular participation by the C-6 hydroxyl group in the initial intermediate.     

Glycosyl α-amino acids : Part III. Synthesis of D- and L-2-(1,2:5,6-DI-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactofuranos-3-YL)glycine

Stereospecific hydroxylation of (E)-3-deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-(methoxycarbonylmethylene)-α-D-xylo-hexofuranose (2) with potassium permanganate in pyridine afforded pure 3-C-[(R)-hydroxy(methoxycarbonyl)methyl]-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactofuranose (5) in 55% yield. Mesylation of the diol 5 in pyridine yielded the monomethanesulfonate 6 and, in addition, a small proportion of an unsaturated, exocyclic sulfonate 7. Treatment of 6 with sodium azide in N-N-dimethylformamide and reduction of the resultant α-azido ester 9 afforded methyl D- (and L-) 2-(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactofuranos-3-yl)glycinate, (11a) and (10a), respectively. Basic hydrolysis of 11a and 10a yielded D- and L-2-(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactofuranos-3-yl)glycine (11b) and (10b), respectively. The structures of the glycosyl α-amino acids were correlated with that of L-alanine by circular dichroism.     

Photochemical conversion of sugar dimethylthio-carbamates into deoxy sugars

Protected sugar derivatives having one free hydroxyl group may be deoxygenated at the alcoholic position by ultraviolet irradiation of the corresponding dimethylthiocarbamic esters: a concomitant process leads also to the original alcohol. Thus, on photolysis, the 6-dimethylthiocarbamate (1) or 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose (3) gives 6-deoxy- 1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose (2) together with 3. Likewise, the 4-dimethylthiocarbamate (6) of 1,6-anhydro-2.3-O-isopropylidene-β-D-mannopyranose (8) gives a mixture of the 4-deoxy derivative 7 and the alcohol 8. 3-Deoxy-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-ribo-hexofuranose (10) was obtained by irradiation of 3-O-(dimethylthiocarbamoyl)-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (9), and was accompanied by 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (11). The 3-deoxy-3-iodo analog (14) of 11 underwent conversion into 10 by photolysis, and the deoxy sugar 10 was also prepared from 3,3'-dithiobis(1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D--glucofuranose) (12) by the action of Raney nickel. Photolysis of the 2-dimethylthiocarbamate (16) of methyl 3,4-O-isopropylidene-β-L-arabinopyranoside (18) gave the 2-deoxy derivative (17), together with the parent alcohol 18, and the same pair of products was obtained by the action of tributylstannane on the 2-(methylthio)thiocarbonyl derivative (19) of 18, although the dimethylthiocarbamate 16 was unreactive toward tributylstannane.     

6-Methylpurine derived sugar modified nucleosides: Synthesis and evaluation of their substrate activity with purine nucleoside phosphorylases

6-Methylpurine (MeP) is cytotoxic adenine analog that does not exhibit selectivity when administered systemically, and could be very useful in a gene therapy approach to cancer treatment involving Escherichia coli PNP. The prototype MeP releasing prodrug, 9-(β-d-ribofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine, MeP-dR has demonstrated good activity against tumors expressing E. coli PNP, but its antitumor activity is limited due to toxicity resulting from the generation of MeP from gut bacteria. Therefore, we have embarked on a medicinal chemistry program to identify non-toxic MeP prodrugs that could be used in conjunction with E. coli PNP. In this work, we report on the synthesis of 9-(6-deoxy-β-d-allofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (3) and 9-(6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-β-d-ribo-hexofuranosyl)-6-methylpurine (4), and the evaluation of their substrate activity with several phosphorylases. The glycosyl donors; 1,2-di-O-acetyl-3,5-di-O-benzyl-α-d-allofuranose (10) and 1-O-acetyl-3-O-benzyl-2,5-di-O-benzoyl-6-deoxy-5-C-methyl-β-d-ribohexofuran-ose (15) were prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidine-α-d-glucofuranose in 9 and 11 steps, respectively. Coupling of 10 and 15 with silylated 6-methylpurine under Vorbrüggen glycosylation conditions followed conventional deprotection of the hydroxyl groups furnished 5′-C-methylated-6-methylpurine nucleosides 3 and 4, respectively. Unlike 9-(6-deoxy-α-l-talo-furanosyl)-6-methylpurine, which showed good substrate activity with E. coli PNP mutant (M64V), the β-d-allo-furanosyl derivative 3 and the 5′-di-C-methyl derivative 4 were poor substrates for all tested glycosidic bond cleavage enzymes.     

Synthesis of higher-carbon sugars via vinyltin derivatives of simple monosaccharides

6-O-Benzyl-7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-ynopyranose reacted with tributyltin hydride to afford (Z-6-O-benzyl-7,8-dideoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-8-(tributylstannyl)-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-oct-7-enopyranose, which was subsequently isomerized to the E-olefin 4. Replacement of the tributyltin moietey with lithium in 4 afforded the vinyl anion which reacted with 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanose, furnishing 3-O-benzyl-6-C-[(E)-6-O-benzyl-7-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto-heptopyranos-7-ylidene] -60-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gluco- (6) and -β-l-ido-furanose (7) in yields of ∼70 or ∼87% (depending on the temperature of the reaction). The configurations of the new chiral centers in 6 and 7 were determined by their conversion into 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gluco- and -β-l-ido-furanose, respectively. Oxidation of 6 and 7 gave the same enone, 3-O-benzyl-6-C-[(E)-6-O-benzyl-7-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-l-glycero-α-d-galacto- heoptopyranos-7-ylidene]-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-hexofuranos-5-ulose.     

Synthesis of 1-deoxy-3-C-methyl-d-fructose and 1-deoxy-3-C-methyl-d-sorbose

Hydroxylation of trans-1,3,4-trideoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-d-glycero-hex-3-enulose with osmium tetraoxide gave a mixture of 1-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-d-arabino- and -d-xylo-hexulose that was partially resolved by acetonation to give 1-deoxy-2,3:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-β-d-fructopyranose (4), 1-deoxy-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-keto-d-fructose (5), and 1-deoxy-2,3:4,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-α-d-sorbofuranose (6). Treatment of a mixture of 4 and 5 with sodium borohydride gave, after column chromatography, 4 and 1-deoxy-3,4:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-C-methyl-d-manno- and -d-gluco-hexitol. Deuterated derivatives corresponding to 4–6 were obtained when isopropylidenation was carried out with acetone-d₆. Deacetonation of 4 and 5 yielded 1-deoxy-3-C-methyl-d-fructose, and 6 similarly afforded 1-deoxy-3-C-methyl-d-sorbose.     

The synthesis of chlorodeoxyhexofuranoid derivatives

The reaction of 1,2-O-isopropylidene-α- d-glucofuranose with sulfuryl chloride at 0° and at 50° afforded 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α- d-glucofuranose 3,5-bis(chlorosulfate) ( 3) and 5,6-dichloro-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β- l-idofuranose 3-chlorosulfate ( 7, not characterised), respectively. Dechlorosulfation of 3 afforded the hydroxy derivative, whereas treatment of 3 with pyridine gave the 3,5-(cyclic sulfate). Dechlorosulfation of 7 afforded 5,6-dichloro-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β- l-idofuranose which, on acid hydrolysis, was converted into 3,6-anhydro-5-chloro-5-deoxy- l-idofuranose. 5-Chloro-5-deoxy-α- l-idofuranosidurono-6,3-lactone and 5-chloro-5-deoxy-β- l-idofuranurono-6,3-lactone derivatives were also prepared.     

C-4′-Branched-chain sugar nucleosides: synthesis of isomers of psicofuranine

Photoamidation of 3-O-acetyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-erythro-hex-3-enofuranose (1) afforded 3-O-acetyl-4-C-carbamoyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gulofuranose (2) and 3-O-acetyl-3-C-carbamoyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-α-allofuranose (3) in 65 and 26% yields, respectively (based on consumed1). Treatment of2 with 5% hydrochloric acid in methanol yielded the spiro lactone5, which was deacetylated to yield7. Reduction of5 with sodium borohydride afforded 4-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-gulofuranose (9) in 79% yield. Oxidation of9 with sodium metaperiodate afforded a dialdose that was reduced with sodium borohydride to give 4-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-erythro-pentofuranose (11) in 88% yield. Treatment of the acetate12, derived from11, with trifluoroacetic acid, followed by acetylation, afforded the branched-chain sugar acetate14. Condensation of the glycosyl halide derived from14 withN⁶-benzoyl-N⁶, 9-bis-(trimethylsilyl)adenine yielded an equimolar anomeric mixture of protected nucleosides15 and16 in 40% yield. Treatment of the latter compounds with sodium methoxide in methanol afforded 9-[4-C-(hydroxymethyl)-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl]-adenine (17) and the α-d anomer18. The structure of3 was determined by correlation with the known 5,3′-hemiacetal of 3-C-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α,α′-d-ribo-pentodialdose (25).     

Selective replacement of primary hydroxyl groups in carbohydrates: preparation of some carbohydrate derivatives containing halomethyl groups

Selective halogenation of hydroxymethyl groups in sugars and nucleosides has been achieved by use of triphenylphosphine and carbon tetrahalides (chloride, bromide, or iodide) in pyridine. Methyl α-d-glucopyranoside, 1,2,-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose, inosine, and uridine give almost quantitative yields of their primary halomethyl analogs. Similarly, 6,6′-dichloro-6,6′-dideoxysucrose is prepared from sucrose. Chlorination and bromination of 5,6-anhydro-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose by these reagents give 6-chloro-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose and 6-bromo-6-deoxy-1,2-O-iso-propylidene-α-d-glucofuranose, respectively.     

Über die Synthese partiell benzylierter Zucker

1,2:5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-allofuranose (1), 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-glucofuranose (2), and 1,2.3,4-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-galactopyranose (3) have been separately treated in pyridine solution with trifluoromethanesulphonic anhydride, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulphonyl chloride, and pentaflucrobenzenesulphonyl chloride. Both 1 and 2 afforded the anticipated sulphonic esters. Although 3 also gave the 2,2,2-trifluoroethanesulphonic and pentafluorobenzenesulphonic esters, the reaction with trifluoromethanesulphonic anhydride yielded 6-deoxy-1,2:3,4-di-O isopropylidene-6-pyridino-α-D-galactopyranose trifluoromethanesulphonate.     

The behavior of some aldoses with 2,2-dimethoxypropane-N,N-dimethylformamide-p-toluenesulfonic acid. II. At 80 degrees

Four aldohexoses were individually subjected to the reagent mixture and temperature cited in the title; in each case, the 2,2-dimethoxypropane was present in only a small molar excess and the p-toluenesulfonic acid was used in trace amounts. D-Mannose (1) afforded the known 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannofuranose (2) in significantly higher yield than when the reaction was conducted at room temperature. The other three aldoses, however, gave products markedly different from those formed under the milder conditions. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose (3) gave a mixture of products from which methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-2,3-N,O-isopropylidene-5,6-O-isopropylidene-α-D-mannofuranoside (4), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-2,3-N,O-isopropylidene-5,6-O-isopropylidene-D-mannofuranose (5a), and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-α-D-mannofuranoside (6a) were isolated. 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose (11) gave compounds identified as methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D-galactofuranoside (12a) and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D-galactopyranoside (13a). 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (16) afforded methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D-glucofuranoside (17a) and methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-β-D-glucopyranoside (18a). Evidence in support of the structures assigned to these new derivatives is presented.     

2′-Azido-2′-deoxy- and 2′-amino-2′-deoxy-β-d-arabino-furanosyl purine nucleosides

A general method for the preparation of 2′-azido-2′-deoxy- and 2′-amino-2′-deoxyarabinofuranosyl-adenine and -guanine nucleosides is described. Selective benzoylation of 3-azido-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose afforded 3-azido-6-O-benzoyl-3-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose (1). Acid hydrolysis of 1, followed by oxidation with sodium metaperiodate and hydrolysis by sodium hydrogencarbonate gave 2-azido-2-deoxy-5-O-benzoyl-d-arabinofuranose (3), which was acetylated to give 1,3-di-O-acetyl-2-azido-5-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-d-arabinofuranose (4). Compound 4 was converted into the 1-chlorides 5 and 6, which were condensed with silylated derivatives of 6-chloropurine and 2-acetamido-hypoxanthine. The condensation reaction gave α and β anomers of both 7- and 9-substituted purine nucleosides. The structures of the nucleosides were determined by n.m.r. and u.v. spectroscopy, and by correlation of the c.d. spectra of the newly prepared nucleosides with those published for known purine nucleosides.     

Facile route for the synthesis of the iminosugar nucleoside (3R,4R)-1-(pyren-1-yl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol

N-(Pyren-1-yl)-(3R,4S)-4-[(1S,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]pyrrolidin-3-ol (4) was obtained in 36% yield from 3-deoxy-3-C-formyl-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-allofuranose (3) by combined hydrolysis and aminoalkylation reactions with 1-aminopyrene in a one-pot reaction. Cleavage reactions of the exocyclic triol chain in 4 with NaIO₄ and NaBH₄ resulted in iminosugars 7 and 8, which are analogues of the furanose forms of 2-deoxy-d-allose and of 2-deoxy-d-ribose, the latter analogue N-(pyren-1-yl)-(3R,4R)-4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol (8) being formed in 83% yield.     

The 13C-n.m.r. spectra of peracetylated cello-oligosaccharides

The reaction of 1,4-anhydro-2-deoxy-5,6-O-isopropylidene-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol (1) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid in ethanol gives 2,3-unsaturated ethyl glycosides together with saturated ethyl glycosides formed by trans-ring opening of 1,2-epoxide intermediates. Similar results are obtained on peroxidation of 1,4-anhydro-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-d-mannofuranosyl)-5,6-O-isopropylidene-d-arabino-hex-1-enitol (2). Products resulting from osmylation of 1 and 2 and cleavage of the osmate esters are also described. 2-Deoxy derivatives are prepared from 1 and 2 by methoxymercuration-demercuration and also by reduction of 2-bromo-2-deoxy derivatives obtained by ethoxybromination.     

Synthesis and X-ray structure of a C5-C4-linked glucofuranose-oxazolidin-2-one

The formation of (4R)-4-carbamoyl-4-[(4R)-3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-l-threofuranos-4-C-yl]-oxazolidin-2-one instead of expected imidazolidin-2,4-dione (hydantoin) derivative from 5-amino-5-cyano-5-deoxy-3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-glucofuranose or 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-d-xylo-hexofuranos-5-ulose under Bucherer-Bergs reaction conditions is reported. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data revealed that ³T₄ is the prefered conformation for the furanose ring, while E₂ and ²T₁ conformations are adopted by the 1,3-dioxolane and 2-oxazolidinone five-membered rings, respectively.     

Nucleosides LXXXIII. Synthetic studies on nucleoside antibiotics. 11. Synthesis of methyl 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranoside and -hexopyranosiduronic acid (derivatives related to the carbohydrate moiety of gougerotin)

Methyl 4-amino-3,4-dideoxy-β-D-ribo-hexopyranoside (17) and its uronic acid (19) were synthesized via a series of reactions starting from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-O-tosyl-α-D-glucofuranose. A method suitable for the large scale preparation of 3,4-dideoxy- 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-α-D-erythro-hex-3-enofuranose(2) was devised.     

Synthesis of 5-deoxy-d-xylo-hexose and 5-deoxy-l-arabino-hexose,and their conversion into adenine nucleosides

Anti-Markovnikov hydration of the olefinic bond of 5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-3-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α- d-xylo-hex-5-enofuranose (4) and methyl 5,6-dideoxy-2,3-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-l-arabino-hex-5-enofuranoside (11) by the addition of iodine trifluoroacetate, followed by hydrogenation in the presence of a Raney nickel catalyst in ethanol containing triethylamine, afforded 5-deoxy-1,2-O-ísopropylidene-3-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-d-xylo-hexofuranose (6) and methyl 5-deoxy-2,3-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-α-d-arabino-hexofuranoside (14), respectively. 5-deoxy-d-xylo-hexose and 5-deoxy-l-arabino-hexose were prepared from 6 and 14, respectively, by photolytic O-detosylation and acid hydrolysis. Syntheses of 9-(5-deoxy-β-d-xylo-hexofuranosyl)-adenine and 9-(5-deoxy-α-l-arabino-hexofuranosyl)adenine are also described. Application of the sodium naphthalene procedure, for O-detosylation, to 11 is reported in connection with an alternative synthetic route to methyl 5-deoxy-α-l-arabino- hexofuranoside.