Studies on the interconversion of 2,3'-anhydro-1-β-D-xylofuranosyluracil and 2,2'-anhydro-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyluracil

2,3'-Anhydro-1-β-D-xylofuranosyluracil (10) is converted, reversibly, into 2,2'-anhydro-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyluracil (1) in the presence of sodium tert-butoxide. The reaction probably involves 2',3'-anhydrouridine as an intermediate and equilibrium is strongly in favour of 1. The behaviour of 1 and 10 towards sodium hydroxide and sodium methoxide is described. Reaction of 3-azido-3-deoxy-2,5-di-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-β-D-xylofuranosyl chloride with monochloromercuri-4-ethoxy-2(lH)-pyrimidinone afforded crystalline 1-(3-azido-3-deoxy-2,5-di-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-β-D-xylofura-nosyl)uracil (24) in 57% yield. Alkaline methanolysis of 24 gave crystalline 1-(3-azido-3-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)uracil, which yielded 1-(3-amino-3-deoxy-β-D-xylofuranosyl)uracil (27) on hydrogenation. Deamination of 27 with nitrous acid gave mainly uracil (55%) and not the epoxide 5 or compounds derived from it.