Carbocyclic 5′‐norcytidine (5′‐norcarbodine)

A preparation of (1′ R ,2′ S ,3′ R ,4′ S )‐1‐(2′,3′,4′‐trihydroxycyclopent‐1′‐yl)‐l H ‐cytosine (5′‐norcarbodine, 3 ) has formally been achieved in 2 steps from (+)‐(1 R ,4 S )‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐yl acetate ( 4 ) and cytosine. The L‐like enantiomer of 3 (that is, 6 ) is also reported using the enantiomer of 4 (that is, 7 ). In evalu ating 3 and 6 for antiviral potential against a number of viruses, compound 3 was found to have activity towards Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV).