Treatment of 5-methoxymethyluracil (I) with trimethylchlorosilane in the presence of triethylamine gives bis(trimethylsilyl)-5-methoxymethyluracil (II). Condensation of compound (II) with 3,5-di(0-p-toluoyl)-2-deoxy-D-ribofuranosyl chloride (III) yields an anomeric mixture of blocked nucleosides. The beta-anomer (IVa) is the major product and is purified by crystallization. After deblocking with hot sodium methoxide in methanol, 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-methoxymethyluracil is obtained.
The reaction of 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)uracil (V) with CH2O and KOH gives 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-hydroxymethyluracil (VI), which is treated with methanolic-HCl. Chromatography on silica gel yields the target compound.