Facile rearrangement of N4-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines to N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides

Under near neutral and mildly basic conditions, primary N4-(α-aminoacyl)cytidines (4a-g) undergo a facile rearrangement to form N-(4-cytidinyl)amino acid amides (5a-g). Secondary aminoacyl derivatives rearrange with other competing pathways. Tertiary aminoacyl derivatives do not rearrange.