Abstract: An apparatus for automatically opening interdigitated tab fingers formed on a hang strip provides a base onto which an indexing station, a cutting station and an article attachment station are disposed. A supply of hang strip material is provided and is mounted to the base and is fed through the indexing station and across the cutting station and is guided through to an item attachment end of the base. At the item attachment end the otherwise interdigitated tab fingers are open and the item to be hung is placed onto the upwardly extended one(s) of the finger tabs and are caused to be closed upon themselves upon the continued advancement of the material through the attachment end of the base.

Abstract: A method for synthesizing monofluoromethyl- and difluoromethyluracil nucleosides from the corresponding thymine nucleosides is developed. These compounds which contain a partially fluorinated methyl group at the C-5 position (a new class of nucleosides) are potential antiviral and/or anticancer agents. The major features of the preparative route involve bromination of suitably protected thymine nucleosides followed by fluoride treatment.