Olefin cross-metathesis for the synthesis of alkenyl acyclonucleoside phosphonates.

The detailed synthetic protocol for the straightforward, efficient synthesis of various alkenyl acyclonucleosides, including challenging trisubstituted alkenyl acyclonucleoside phosphonates, is described. The key step of those syntheses is an olefin cross-metathesis reaction between two olefins selected based on their reactivity using well-defined ruthenium alkylidene catalysts.