2,3-dideoxy-furanoses in convergent syntheses of 2',3'-dideoxy nucleosides

Convergent syntheses, in which a synthetic 2,3-dideoxy-furanose intermediate is condensed with a synthetic base with the aim of producing 2'-substituted-, 3'-substituted- or unsubstituted-2',3'dideoxy nucleosides-potential HIV inhibitors - are reviewed. It is demonstrated that this approach provides a potential for structural variations, including unnatural configurations, otherwise unattainable. Starting from both carbohydrate and noncarbohydrate precursors synthetic routes to the carbohydrate moiety are emphasized and syntheses of related compounds considered