Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Cyclohexenyl Nucleosides

An enantiodivergent synthesis of several cyclohexenyl nucleosides has been efficiently completed starting from the enantiopure hydrobenzoin-derived monoketal of cyclohex-2-en-1,4-dione, (+)-5. Stereodiversity was accomplished on the base coupling step. This methodology has proved to be useful for the synthesis of enantiopure pyrimidine and purine nucleoside analogues, which anti-HIV activity has been evaluated.