Synthesis of 5‐benzyl and 5‐benzyloxybenzyl‐3′‐azido‐2′,3′‐dideoxyuridine and their analogues as potential anti‐AIDS agents

5‐Benzyl and 5‐benzyloxybenzyl‐substituted 3′‐azido‐2′,3′‐dideoxyuridine, ( 8a and 8b ), 3′‐halogeno‐2′,3′‐dideoxyuridine, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a and 11b , and 2′,3′‐dideoxyuridine, 12a and 12b , of Scheme I were synthesized as potential anti AIDS agents. Synthesis of epimers of 8a and 8b , 5‐benzyl‐ and 5‐benzyloxybenzyl‐1‐(3′‐azido‐2′,3′‐dideoxy‐β‐D‐threo‐pentafuranosyl)uracil, 15a and 15b , and 5‐benzyl‐ and 5‐benzyloxy‐5′‐azido‐2′,5′‐dideoxyuridine, 16a and 16b , shown in Scheme II, were also reported.