Table 2. α-Alkylation of the 5-(β-Keto)sulfones of Uracil and Cytosine Nucleosides^a.

entry	substrate	E–Z	product	yield (%)b
1	12	BnBr	16ac	50
2	12	MeI	17	49
3	12	AllBr	18	46
4	13	AllBr	19	42
5	14	BnBr	20	68
6	14	MeI	21	80
7	15	BnBr	22	72

^a5-(β-Keto)sulfones 12–15 (0.1 mmol), NaOH/H₂O (0.2 mmol)/MeOH, rt, 4–12 h.

^bIsolated yields.

^cAlso isolated was 16b (17%).