Copper-catalyzed N-alkoxyalkylation of nucleobases involving direct functionalization of sp3 C-H bonds adjacent to oxygen atoms

N-Alkoxyalkylation of nucleobases was realized by the copper-catalyzed peroxide-promoted coupling of nucleobases with readily available saturated ethers. Both purines and pyrimidines could be N-alkoxyalkylated through this method in moderate to good yields. 2D-NMR revealed that N9-alkoxyalkylation preferentially occurred when purines were used in this reaction.