Synthesis of β‐L‐2′‐Deoxythymidine (L‐dT)

The “unnatural” l-nucleoside β-l-2′-deoxythymidine (L-dT) is a potent, specific, and selective inhibitor of the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is currently in Phase III clinical trials. This unit describes, in detail, a semi-large-scale synthesis of l-dT. This convenient methodology produces l-dT in six steps starting with l-ribose and ending with a satisfactory overall yield of l-dT, and may be applied to other 2′-deoxynucleosides, incorporating different heterocyclic bases. Keywords: anti-HBV agent; semi-large-scale synthesis; l-dT; l-nucleosides; deoxygenation reaction