Mild Approach to Nucleoside Analogues via Photoredox/Cu-Catalyzed Decarboxylative C-N Bond Formation. Total Synthesis of Oxetanocin A.

The conventional N -glycosylation methods for nucleoside synthesis usually require strongly acidic or basic conditions. Here we report the decarboxylative C(sp 3 )-N coupling of glycosyl N -hydroxyphthalimide esters with nucleobases via dual photoredox/Cu catalysis, which offered a mild approach to nucleoside analogues. A total synthesis of oxetanocin A, an antiviral natural product containing an oxetanose moiety, has been achieved by using this method.