Synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′-(2-propynyl)thymidine and 3′-cyanomethyl-3′-deoxythymidine, analogs of AZT

An efficient procedure using free radical chemistry for introducing a carbon substituent to the 3′-position of 3′-deoxythymidine is described. An application of this procedure to the synthesis of 3′-deoxy-3′-(2-propynyl)thymidine and 3′-cyanomethyl-3′-deoxythymidine, two close analogs of AZT, is presented.