Reinvestigation of the synthesis of 1-deazauridine.

A thorough study for the synthesis of 1-deazauridine is described. 3-Bromo-2,6-dimethoxy-5-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)pyridine, a synthetic precursor for 1-deazauridine, was prepared in seven steps from 2,6-dimethoxypyridine and d-ribose via the ribonolactone approach. Subsequent demethylation was unsuccessful but led to presumable anomerization and isomerization. The effort concluded that the synthesis of 1-deazauridine remained unachieved.