Improved syntheses of D-ribo- and 2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose phospho sugars from methyl β-D-ribopyranoside

Methyl 4-deoxy-4-dimethoxyphosphinoyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-ribopyranoside (12a) and methyl 2,4-dideoxy-4-dimethoxyphosphinoyl-beta-D-erythro-pentopyranoside (20) were efficiently prepared respectively from methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-beta-D-ribopyranoside (7a) and its 3,4-O-isopropylidene isomer (7b) in appreciably improved total yields compared with those via previously reported routes. Compounds (12a, 20) were led to D-ribofuranose and 2-deoxy-D-ribofuranose phospho sugars (4, 5).