Methyl 4-acetoxycyclopent-2-enylmethylcarboxylate (2) and the correspo
nding carbonate 3 have been treated with sodium salts and aluminum ami
des of pyrimidines, purines and methyl 1H-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate
with a catalyst formed from bis(dibenzylideneacetone)palladium(0) and
triisopropyl phosphite to give the corresponding carbanucleosides in
good to excellent yields. This method was also applied for a synthesis
of carbovir (31). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.