Current Strategies on the Enantioselective Synthesis of Modified Nucleosides

Abstract

After the isolation of two carbocyclic nucleosides, viz Neplanocin A and Aristeromycin, from natural sources, a revolution came into the scientific community to develop more versatile, therapeutically useful compounds. For this purpose, many new methods for the synthesis of the carbocyclic framework of nucleosides have been developed. The consequences of this effort led to the successful development of many marketable drugs. Due to the inherent benefits such as higher lipophilicity and metabolic stability associated with carbocyclic nucleosides, like resistance against glycosidic hydrolysis and modification of aromatic bases by cellular phosphorylases, make them popular for the development of drugs against cancer and different viruses. Classically, carbocyclic nucleosides of various ring sizes and configurations have been synthesized starting from a chiral pool such as ribose and glucose, etc., but recently, many other new asymmetric versions have also been developed. Herein, we present a recent development in the catalytic enantioselective synthesis of nucleoside analogues, including carbocyclic and other varieties. This review provides new insights into the future development of modified nucleosides.