novo purine biosynthesis and is thus primarily responsible for the antitumor activity of the drug. The synthesis of the corresponding ribonucleoside, i.e., N-[(5-amino-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)carbonyl]-3- (hydroxynitrosamino)-L-alanine ribonucleoside (L-alanosine AICO ribonucleoside), was accomplished by condensation of a suitably protected derivative of L-alanosine with N-succinimidyl-5-amino-1-(2