MDPSCL2: a new protecting group for chemoselective synthesis of 2'-O-alkylated guanosines.

An improved strategy for the synthesis of 2'-O-methyl-guanosine (6) and 2'-MOE-guanosine (8) is reported. The regioselectivity of the alkylation was attained using a novel silicon-based protecting group, methylene-bis (diisopropyl-silylchloride) (MDPSCl2, 2). The alkylation proceeded in a chemoselective manner using NaHMDS as the base and MeCl or MOE-Br as the appropriate electrophiles.