Nucleotide Coupling in Reverse Micelles

Nucleotide coupling was investigated in reverse micelles formed by (cetyl)trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), in hexane/pentan-1-o1. In particular, the coupling of 2′ -deoxy-5′-O-methylcytidine 3′ O-phosphate, prepared by phosphoramidite chemistry, with 5′-amino-5-deoxythymidine was studied in the presence of a H₂O-soluble carbodiimide at (w_o) = 11 and 22 (w_o=[H₂O]/[CTAB]). The effect of w_o on the reaction rate was investigated. A solid-phase strategy was developed for the synthesis of 2′-deoxy-5′O-methyl-cytidyl-(3′-5′)-5′-amino-5′deoxythymidine. The nucleotide coupling yieldig the expected product occurred readily in reverse micelles. Nucleotide coupling is thus possible in reverse micelles, and this is discussed in connection with the micellar self-replication program.