Synthesis of 5-Arylthiouridines via Electrophilic Substitution of 5-Bromouridines with Diaryl Disulfides.

Abstract Novel synthetic method of 5-arylthiouridine derivatives is described. Treatment of 5-bromo-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine (1a) with diaryl disulfides in the presence of sodium hydride at ambient temperature gave the 5-arylthiouridines (2) in moderate yields. The present method is devised by virtue of a combination of efficient participation of the 5′-hydroxy group onto the uracil ring and the electrophilic nature of diaryl disulfide, which was applied to the synthesis of 5-arylthio-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-uracils (8).