A two-step manufacturing process for methyl 1-(2,3,5-tri-
O-acetyl-
-
L-ribofuranosyl)-1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate (
1) wasdeveloped. In step 1,
L-ribose was converted to a
/
mixtureof 1,2,3,5-tetra-
O-acetyl-
L-ribofuranoses (
2 and
4). The stepcontained four chemical transformations and was completedin "one-pot" in approximately 95% yield. The crude step 1pro
duct was reacted with methyl 1,2,4-triazole-3-carboxylate(
3) in step 2 to pro
duce
1. The successful utilization of bothisomers (
2 and
4) in step 2 offered advantages of higher overallyield and a much simplified process by eliminating the isolationof pure
2. The process was successfully scaled up to the pilotplant and subsequently in a manufacturing campaign usingcommercial pro
duction facilities.