1,4-Rearrangement of 7-(2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxyhex-2-enopyranosyl)theophylline derivatives

Treatment of 7-2(-acetamido-2,3-dideoxyhex-2-enopyranosyl)theophylline derivatives with boron trifluoride etherate in boiling methanol led to the isolation of 7-(methyl 2-acetamido-2,3,4-trideoxyhex-2-enopyranosid-4-yl)theophylline derivatives. Some mechanistic features of this 1,4-rearrangement followed by solvolysis are discussed, and a rationalization of the formation of the C-4′ derivatives in the fusion reaction of 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-1,5-anhydro-2-deoxy-d-arabino-hex-l-enitol with theophylline is offered.