Synthesis of EFdA via a diastereoselective aldol reaction of a protected 3-keto furanose.

An efficient enantioselective total synthesis of EFdA, a remarkably potent anti-HIV nucleoside analogue with various favorable pharmacological profiles, has been achieved in 37% overall yield from diacetone-D-glucose by a 14-step sequence that features a highly diastereoselective installation of the tetrasubstituted stereogenic center at the C4' position, direct oxidative cleavage of an acetonide-protected diol derivative to an aldehyde, and one-pot 2'-deoxygenation of a ribonucleoside intermediate.