Improved Synthesis of (E)-2′-Deoxy-2′-(fluoromethylene)cytidine - A Potent Inhibitor Of Ribonucleotide Diphosphate Reductase

Abstract
An improved synthesis of 1 is reported that utilizes cytidine as starting material and incorporates the stereospecific method to fluoro olefins as in the original process. The new route is five steps, compared to the seven step original procedure, with an overall yield of 29%. Several intermediates are crystalline and readily purified.