Mechanistic and synthetic aspects of the C-1 ' radicals in modified nucleosides

The direct and indirect production of C-1' radicals has been achieved throu gh the synthesis of modified nucleosides. Product studies and spectroscopic investigations have been used to study the structure and fate of C-1' radi cal species under anoxic or aerobic conditions. The results are of fundamen tal importance in understanding the mechanism of DNA cleavage via C-1' radi cals. The mechanistic schemes of some very recent synthetic applications ha ve also been revisited.