Synthesis of guanosine and its derivatives from 5-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-e-imidazolecarboxamide. IV. A new route to guanosine via cyanamide derivative.

4-Cyanamido-5-imidazolecarboxamide (IV) was prepared by brief treatment of 5-(S-methylisothiocarbamoyl) amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (V) with alkali. Compound VI was converted in an alkaline solution to either guanine (VII) or isoguanine (VIII), depending on the concentration of alkali. This procedure was applied to the synthesis of 2',3'-0-isopropylideneguanosine (XVI) from the riboside of 5-(N'-benzoyl-S-methylthiocarbamoyl) amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (IX), PROviding a new route to XVI.