5,6-Diaminocytidine, a versatile synthon for pyrimidine-based bicyclic nucleosides

This communication describes a convenient, facile, and high-yield synthesis of 3-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)isoguanine and its 8-methyl derivative, as well as nucleoside analogues of pteridines, from a common precursor, 5,6-diaminocytidine. 5,6-Diamino-2',3', 5'-tri-O-benzoylcytidine was synthesized from 4, 6-diamino-2-oxopyrimidine in three steps.