6-Aroyluridines, a hitherto unknown class of uridine derivatives, were synthesized from 2', 3'-O-isopropylidene-5'-O-methoxymethyluridine via regiospecific lithiation.
the ribose moiety in the 6-functionalized products were concurrently removed under mild conditions with aqueous trifluoroacetic acid. Consequently, the present method permits simple and general syntheses of 6-substituted uridines.