The base catalysed anomerisation of -5-formyluridine; crystal and molecular structure of -5-formyluridine

Abstract
On treatment with strong base β-5-formyluridine undergoes an anomerisation to give a mixture of the α- and β-anomers. The anomers have been separated by fractional recrystallisation and the absolute configuration of the α-anomer has been determined by X-ray analysis.