Microwave-promoted facile and efficient preparation of N-(alkoxycarbonylmethyl) nucleobases--building blocks for peptide nucleic acids.

A simple, rapid, and regioselective approach for the synthesis of N-(methoxy-carbonylmethyl)- and N-(n-propoxycarbonylmethyl) nucleobases was developed. By using DMF as the solvent and in the presence of K2CO3 as the base, all the desired products were obtained in moderate yields within 8 min under microwave irradiation.