Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of a Series of Substituted 2-Pyridine C-Nucleosides

Abstract Condensation of 2-lithio-pyridine and the four isomers of 2-lithio-picoline with 2,4:3,5-di-O-benzylidene-aldehydo-D-ribose, gives the D-allo- and D-altro-isomers of 2-(2,4:3,5-di-O-benzylidenepentitol-l-yl)-pyridine and the corresponding isomers of the four picoline-addition products in a good yields. On treatment with dilute hydrochloric acid or formic acid the corresponding pentitols were obtained. None of these pentitols showed an inhibitory effect on virus replication or tumor cell growth.