Improved microwave-assisted ligand-free Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling of 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine in pure water

A facile and efficient methodology for direct synthesis of 5-aryl-2′-deoxyuridines was developed through ligand-free Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reactions starting from totally deprotected 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine and various boronic acids. Reactions were performed, in pure water, in the presence of very low loading of palladium either by classical thermal heating or with the assistance of microwave irradiation yielding 5-arylated uridine derivatives in moderate to good yields within short reaction times.