A series of 4′-aryl-2′,3′-dideoxynucleosideanalogues were synthesized from optically pure 5-oxo-2-aryl-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids up to 62% overall yield. 5-Oxo-2-aryl-tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids were obtained from 2-hydroxy-3-arylcyclopent-2-en-1-ones by asymmetric oxidation in up to 38–57% yield.
3-Aryl-2-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-ones, when subjected to asymmetric oxidation, result in enantiomerically enriched 2-aryl-5-oxotetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acids. Electron-donating substituents in the para position of the phenyl ring increase the yield and decrease the enantioselectivity of the process.