β‐Hairpins Generated from Hybrid Peptide Sequences Containing both α‐ and β‐Amino Acids

The incorporation of the β‐amino acid residues into specific positions in the strands and β‐turn segments of peptide hairpins is being systematically explored. The presence of an additional torsion variable about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ) enhances the conformational repertoire in β‐residues. The conformational analysis of three designed peptide hairpins composed of α/β‐hybrid segments is described: Boc‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐^DPro‐β Phe ‐Leu‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 1 ), Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Val ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Leu ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 2 ), and Boc‐Leu‐Val‐β Phe ‐Val‐^DPro‐Gly‐Leu‐β Phe ‐Val‐Val‐OMe ( 3 ). 500‐MHz ¹H‐NMR Analysis supports a preponderance of β‐hairpin conformation in solution for all three peptides, with critical cross‐strand NOEs providing evidence for the proposed structures. The crystal structure of peptide 2 reveals a β‐hairpin conformation with two β‐residues occupying facing, non‐H‐bonded positions in antiparallel β‐strands. Notably, βVal(3) adopts a gauche conformation about the C(α) C(β) bond (θ=+65°) without disturbing cross‐strand H‐bonding. The crystal structure of 2 , together with previously published crystal structures of peptides 3 and Boc‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐^DPro‐Gly‐β Phe ‐β Phe ‐OMe, provide an opportunity to visualize the packing of peptide sheets with local ‘polar segments' formed as a consequence of reversal peptide‐bond orientation. The available structural evidence for hairpins suggests that β‐residues can be accommodated into nucleating turn segments and into both the H‐bonding and non‐H‐bonding positions on the strands.     

Stabilization of a Bimolecular Triplex by 3′‐S‐Phosphorothiolate Modifications: An NMR and UV Thermal Melting Investigation

Triplexes formed from oligonucleic acids are key to a number of biological processes. They have attracted attention as molecular biology tools and as a result of their relevance in novel therapeutic strategies. The recognition properties of single‐stranded nucleic acids are also relevant in third‐strand binding. Thus, there has been considerable activity in generating such moieties, referred to as triplex forming oligonucleotides (TFOs). Triplexes, composed of Watson–Crick (W–C) base‐paired DNA duplexes and a Hoogsteen base‐paired RNA strand, are reported to be more thermodynamically stable than those in which the third strand is DNA. Consequently, synthetic efforts have been focused on developing TFOs with RNA‐like structural properties. Here, the structural and stability studies of such a TFO, composed of deoxynucleic acids, but with 3′‐S‐phosphorothiolate (3′‐SP) linkages at two sites is described. The modification results in an increase in triplex melting temperature as determined by UV absorption measurements. ¹H NMR analysis and structure generation for the (hairpin) duplex component and the native and modified triplexes revealed that the double helix is not significantly altered by the major groove binding of either TFO. However, the triplex involving the 3′‐SP modifications is more compact. The 3′‐SP modification was previously shown to stabilise G‐quadruplex and i‐motif structures and therefore is now proposed as a generic solution to stabilising multi‐stranded DNA structures.     

Synthesis and Pairing Properties of Oligodeoxynucleotides Containing N7‐(Purin‐2‐amine Deoxynucleosides)

A general synthesis of the four isomeric N⁷‐α‐D ‐, N⁷‐β‐D ‐, N⁹‐α‐D ‐, and N⁹‐β‐D ‐(purin‐2‐amine deoxynucleoside phosphoramidite) building blocks for DNA synthesis is described (Scheme). The syntheses start with methyl 3′,5′‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2′‐deoxy‐D ‐ribofuranoside ( 2 ) as the sugar component and the N²‐acetyl‐protected 6‐chloropurin‐2‐amine 1 as the base precursor. N⁷‐Selectivity was achieved by kinetic control, and N⁹‐selectivity by thermodynamic control of the nucleosidation reaction. The two N⁷‐(purin‐2‐amine deoxynucleosides) were introduced into the center of a decamer DNA duplex, and their pairing preferences were analyzed by UV‐melting curves. Both the N⁷‐α‐D ‐ and N⁷‐β‐D ‐(purin‐2‐amine nucleotide) units preferentially pair with a guanine base within the Watson‐Crick pairing regime, with ΔT_ms of −6.7 and −8.7 K, respectively, relative to a C⋅G base pair (Fig. 3 and Table 1). Molecular modeling suggests that, in the former base pair, the purinamine base is rotated into the syn‐arrangement and is able to form three H‐bonds with O(6), N(1), and NH₂ of guanine, whereas in the latter base pair, both bases are in the anti‐arrangement with two H‐bonds between the N(3) and NH₂ of guanine, and NH₂ and N(1) of the purin‐2‐amine base (Fig. 4).     

Studies on the Extension of Sequence‐independence and the Enhancement of DNA Triplex Formation

A more elaborate sequence‐independent triple‐helix formation viability study was carried out and extended from a recombination‐like triple‐helical DNA motif of a previous study (J. Mol. Recognition 14, 122–139 (2001)). The intended triple‐helix was formed by mixing one part of a DNA hairpin duplex and one part of a single (or third) strand identical to one of the duplex strands and complementary to the other strand. In contrast to the common purine and pyrimidine motifs in triple‐stranded DNA, the strands of the recombination‐like motif are not monotonously built from pyrimidine only, or purine only, in the sequence. The stability of the recombination‐like motif triplexes with varying sequences was monitored by UV thermal melting curves. The results showed that the order of the stability of the R‐form DNA base triads (J. Mol. Biol., 239, 181–200 (1994)) is G*(G ○ C) > C*(C ○ G) > A*(A ○ T) >T*(T ○ A) (the Watson‐Crick base pair is denoted in the parentheses) in 200 mM NaCl, at pH 7. In an attempt to increase the stability of the triplex in the recombination‐like motif, we replaced cytidine by 5‐methylcytidine (^mC) of the third strand. There is a general trend that ^mC modification stabilizes the complex (<2 °C per ^mC). The complex is furthermore stabilized by Mg²⁺ ion. The Tm increases from 7 to 2 °C from less stable to highly stable triplex by 20 mM Mg²⁺ ion in solution.     

Expanding the Genetic Alphabet: Pyrazine Nucleosides That Support a Donor?Donor?Acceptor Hydrogen‐Bonding Pattern

The 6‐aminopyrazin‐2(1H)‐one, when incorporated as a pyrimidine‐base analog into an oligonucleotide chain, presents a H‐bond donor? donor? acceptor pattern to a complementary DNA or RNA strand. When paired with the corresponding acceptor? acceptor? donor purine in oligonucleotides, the heterocycle selectively contributes to the stability of the duplex, presumably by forming a base pair of Watson? Crick geometry joined by a nonstandard H‐bonding pattern, expanding the genetic alphabet. Reported here is a short, high yielding, β‐D ‐selective synthesis of a 6‐aminopyrazin‐2(1H)‐one nucleoside via the glycine riboside derivative 28 . The key steps include a Wittig? Horner reaction of an appropriately protected ribose derivative (Scheme 10, 19 → 21 ) followed by a Michael‐like ring closure (Scheme 12, 30 → 1a and 32 → 1b ). Thus, a variety of pyrazine nucleosides (Scheme 13) including the target 6‐aminopyrazin‐2(1H)‐one riboside 1a , and its 5‐methyl derivative 1b , 6‐amino‐5‐methylpyrazin‐2(1H)‐one riboside, are obtained.     

Structural properties of D‐mannopyranosyl rings containing O‐acetyl side‐chains

The crystal structures of 1,2,3,4,6‐penta‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranose, C₁₆H₂₂O₁₁, and 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐3,4,6‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐1,2,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranose, C₄₀H₅₄O₂₇, were determined and compared to those of methyl 2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐acetyl‐α‐d ‐mannopyranoside, methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside and methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐d ‐mannopyranoside to evaluate the effects of O‐acetylation on bond lengths, bond angles and torsion angles. In general, O‐acetylation exerts little effect on the exo‐ and endocyclic C—C and endocyclic C—O bond lengths, but the exocyclic C—O bonds involved in O‐acetylation are lengthened by ～0.02 Å. The conformation of the O‐acetyl side‐chains is highly conserved, with the carbonyl O atom either eclipsing the H atom attached to a 2°‐alcoholic C atom or bisecting the H—C—H bond angle of a 1°‐alcoholic C atom. Of the two C—O bonds that determine O‐acetyl side‐chain conformation, that involving the alcoholic C atom exhibits greater rotational variability than that involving the carbonyl C atom. These findings are in good agreement with recent solution NMR studies of O‐acetyl side‐chain conformations in saccharides. Experimental evidence was also obtained to confirm density functional theory (DFT) predictions of C—O and O—H bond‐length behavior in a C—O—H fragment involved in hydrogen bonding.     

2′‐Deoxy‐7‐propynyl‐7‐deaza­adenosine: a DNA duplex‐stabilizing nucleoside

In the title compound, 2′‐deoxy‐7‐propynyl‐7‐deaza­adenosine, C₁₄H₁₆N₄O₃, the torsion angle of the N‐glycosylic bond is anti [χ = −130.7 (2)°]. The sugar pucker of the 2′‐deoxy­ribo­furanosyl moiety is C2′‐endo–C3′‐exo, ²T₃ (S‐type), with P = 185.9 (2)° and τ_m = 39.1 (1)°, and the orientation of the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is −ap (trans). The 7‐substituted propynyl group is nearly coplanar with the heterocyclic base moiety. Mol­ecules of the nucleoside form a layered network in which the heterocyclic bases are stacked head‐to‐tail with a closest distance of 3.197 (1) Å. The crystal structure of the nucleoside is stabilized by three inter­molecular hydrogen bonds of types N—H⋯ O, O—H⋯ N and O—H⋯ O.     

Oligonucleotide Analogues with a Nucleobase‐Including Backbone:, Part 6, 2‐Deoxy‐D‐erythrose‐Derived Phosphoramidites: Synthesis and Incorporation into 14‐Mer DNA Strands

Two modified DNA 14‐mers have been prepared, containing either a 2‐deoxy‐D ‐erythrose‐derived adenosine analogue carrying a C(8)−CH₂O group (deA*), or a 2‐deoxy‐D ‐erythrose‐derived uridine analogue, possessing a C(6)−CH₂O group (deU*). These nucleosides are linked via a phosphinato group between O−C(3′) (deA* and deU*) and O−C(5′) of one neighbouring nucleotide, and between C(8)−CH₂O (deA*), or C(6)−CH₂O (deU*) and O−C(3′) of the second neighbour. N⁶‐Benzoyl‐9‐(β‐D ‐erythrofuranosyl)adenine ( 3 ) and 1‐(β‐D ‐erythrofuranosyl)uracil ( 4 ) were prepared from D ‐glucose, deoxygenated at C(2′), and converted into the required phosphoramidites 1 and 2 . The modified tetradecamers 31 and 32 were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis. Pairing studies show a decrease in the melting temperature of 7 to 8 degrees for the duplexes 31 ⋅ 30 and 32 ⋅ 29 , as compared to the unmodified DNA duplex 29 ⋅ 30 . A comparison with the pairing properties of tetradecamers similarly incorporating deoxyribose‐ instead of the deoxyerythrose‐derived nucleotides evidences that the CH₂OH substituent at C(4′) has no significant effect on the pairing.     

1,N6‐Etheno derivative of 7‐de­aza‐2,8‐di­aza­adenosine

In the tricyclic nucleoside 7‐(β‐d ‐ribo­furan­osyl)‐7H‐imidazo­[1,2‐c]­pyrazolo­[4,3‐e][1,2,3]­triazine, C₁₁H₁₂N₆O₄, the con­formation of the N‐gly­cosyl bond is intermediate between anti and high anti [χ = −103.5 (3)°]. The ribo­furan­ose moiety adopts a ₃T² sugar pucker (S‐type sugar) and the conformation at the exocyclic C—C bond is ap (gauche–trans). Molecules of the title compound form a three‐dimensional network via three medium–strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds (one O—H⋯N and two O—H⋯O bonds).     

Conformational analysis of the disaccharide methyl α‐d‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐2‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d‐mannopyranoside monohydrate

The crystal structure of methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐2‐O‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside monohydrate, C₁₅H₂₆O₁₂·H₂O, ( II ), has been determined and the structural parameters for its constituent α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl residue compared with those for methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranoside. Mono‐O‐acetylation appears to promote the crystallization of ( II ), inferred from the difficulty in crystallizing methyl α‐d ‐mannopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐d ‐mannopyranoside despite repeated attempts. The conformational properties of the O‐acetyl side chain in ( II ) are similar to those observed in recent studies of peracetylated mannose‐containing oligosaccharides, having a preferred geometry in which the C2—H2 bond eclipses the C=O bond of the acetyl group. The C2—O2 bond in ( II ) elongates by ～0.02 Å upon O‐acetylation. The phi (?) and psi (ψ) torsion angles that dictate the conformation of the internal O‐glycosidic linkage in ( II ) are similar to those determined recently in aqueous solution by NMR spectroscopy for unacetylated ( II ) using the statistical program MA′AT, with a greater disparity found for ψ (Δ = ～16°) than for ? (Δ = ～6°).     

Dendritic Iron(II) Porphyrins as Models for Hemoglobin and Myoglobin: Specific Stabilization of O2 Complexes in Dendrimers with H‐Bond‐Donor Centers

Two types of dendritically functionalized iron(II) porphyrins were prepared (Scheme) and investigated in the presence of 1,2‐dimethylimidazole (1,2‐DiMeIm) as the axial ligand as model systems for T(tense)‐state hemoglobin (Hb) and myoglobin (Mb). Equilibrium O₂‐ and CO‐binding studies were performed in toluene and aqueous phosphate buffer (pH 7). UV/VIS Titrations (Fig. 4) revealed that the two dendritic receptors 1 ⋅ Fe ^II ‐1,2‐DiMeIm and 2 ⋅ Fe ^II ‐1,2‐DiMeIm (Fig. 2) with secondary amide moieties in the dendritic branching undergo reversible complexation (Fig. 5) with O₂ and CO in dry toluene. Whereas the CO affinity is similar to that measured for the natural receptors, the O₂ affinity is greatly enhanced and exceeds that of T‐state Hb by a factor of ca. 1500 (Table). The oxygenated complexes possess half‐lives of several h (Fig. 6). This remarkable stability originates from both dendritic encapsulation of the iron(II) porphyrin and formation of a H‐bond between bound O₂ and a dendritic amide NH moiety (Fig. 11). Whereas reversible CO binding was also observed in aqueous solution (Fig. 10), the oxygenated iron(II) complexes are destabilized by the presence of H₂O with respect to oxidative decay (Fig. 9), possibly as a result of the weakening of the O₂⋅⋅⋅H−N H‐bond by the competitive solvent. The comparison between the two dendrimers with amide branchings and ester derivative 3 ⋅ Fe ^II ‐1,2‐DiMeIm (Fig. 2), which lacks H‐bond donor centers in the periphery of the porphyrin, further supports the role of H‐bonding in stabilizing the O₂ complex against irreversible oxidation. All three derivatives bind CO reversibly and with similar affinity (Fig. 8) in dry toluene, but the oxygenated complex of 3 ⋅ Fe ^II ‐1,2‐DiMeIm undergoes much more rapid oxidative decomposition (Fig. 7).     

7‐Deaza‐2′‐deoxy­guanosine

In the title compound, 2‐amino‐7‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pentofuran­osyl)‐3,7‐dihydro­pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidin‐4‐one, C₁₁H₁₄N₄O₄, the N‐glycosylic bond torsion angle, χ, is anti [−106.5 (3)°]. The 2′‐deoxy­ribofuran­osyl moiety adopts the ³T₄ (N‐type) conformation, with P = 39.1° and τ_m = 40.3°. The conformation around the exocyclic C—C bond is ap (trans), with a torsion angle, γ, of −173.8 (3)°. The nucleoside forms a hydrogen‐bonded network, leading to a close‐packed multiple‐layer structure with a head‐to‐head arrangement of the bases. The nucleobase interplanar O=C—C⋯NH₂ distance is 3.441 (1) Å.     

Molecular‐Dynamics Studies of Single‐Stranded Hexitol,Altritol, Mannitol,and Ribose Nucleic Acids (HNA,MNA, ANA,and RNA,Resp.) and of the Stability of HNA⋅RNA,ANA⋅RNA,and MNA⋅RNA Duplexes

The influence of the orientation of a 3′‐OH group on the conformation and stability of hexitol oligonucleotides in complexes with RNA and as single strands in aqueous solution was investigated by molecular‐dynamics (MD) simulations with AMBER 4.1. The particle mesh Ewald (PME) method was used for the treatment of long‐range electrostatic interactions. An equatorial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the single‐stranded D ‐mannitol nucleic acid (MNA) m(GCGTAGCG) and in the complex with the RNA r(CGCAUCGC) has an unfavorable influence on the helical stability. Frequent H‐bonds between the 3′‐OH group and the O−C(6′) of the phosphate backbone of the following nucleotide explain the distorted conformation of the MNA⋅RNA complex as well as that of the single MNA strand. This is consistent with experimental results that show lowered hybridization potentials for MNA⋅RNA complexes. An axial orientation of the 3′‐OH group in the D ‐altritol nucleic acid (ANA) a(GCGTAGCG) leads to a stable complex with the complementary RNA r(CGCAUCGC), as well as to a more highly preorganized single‐stranded ANA chain. The averaged conformation of the ANA⋅RNA complex is similar to that of A‐RNA, with only minor changes in groove width, helical curvature, and H‐bonding pattern. The relative stabilities of ANA⋅RNA vs. HNA⋅RNA (HNA=D ‐hexitol nucleic acid without 3′‐OH group) can be explained by differences in restricted movements, H‐bonds, and solvation effects.     

3‐Deoxy‐β‐d‐ribo‐hexopyranose (3‐deoxy‐β‐d‐glucopyranose)

The β‐pyranose form, (III), of 3‐deoxy‐d ‐ribo‐hexose (3‐deoxy‐d ‐glucose), C₆H₁₂O₅, crystallizes from water at 298 K in a slightly distorted ⁴C₁ chair conformation. Structural analyses of (III), β‐d ‐glucopyranose, (IV), and 2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐arabino‐hexopyranose (2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐glucopyranose), (V), show significantly different C—O bond torsions involving the anomeric carbon, with the H—C—O—H torsion angle approaching an eclipsed conformation in (III) (−10.9°) compared with 32.8 and 32.5° in (IV) and (V), respectively. Ring carbon deoxygenation significantly affects the endo‐ and exocyclic C—C and C—O bond lengths throughout the pyranose ring, with longer bonds generally observed in the monodeoxygenated species (III) and (V) compared with (IV). These structural changes are attributed to differences in exocyclic C—O bond conformations and/or hydrogen‐bonding patterns superimposed on the direct (intrinsic) effect of monodeoxygenation. The exocyclic hydroxymethyl conformation in (III) (gt) differs from that observed in (IV) and (V) (gg).     

2′‐Deoxy‐5‐propynyluridine: a nucleoside with two conformations in the asymmetric unit

The title compound, 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐d ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)‐5‐(prop‐1‐ynyl)pyrimidin‐2,4(1H,3H)‐dione, C₁₂H₁₄N₂O₅, shows two conformations in the crystalline state: conformer 1 adopts a C2′‐endo (close to ²E; S‐type) sugar pucker and an anti nucleobase orientation [χ = −134.04 (19)°], while conformer 2 shows an S sugar pucker (twisted C2′‐endo–C3′‐exo), which is accompanied by a different anti base orientation [χ = −162.79 (17)°]. Both molecules show a +sc (gauche, gauche) conformation at the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond and a coplanar orientation of the propynyl group with respect to the pyrimidine ring. The extended structure is a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network involving intermolecular N—H...O and O—H...O hydrogen bonds. Only O atoms function as H‐atom acceptor sites.     

7‐Fluorotubercidin: a halogenated derivative of a naturally occurring nucleoside antimetabolite

The title compound [systematic name: 4‐amino‐5‐fluoro‐7‐(β‐d ‐ribofuranosyl)‐7H‐pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine], C₁₁H₁₃FN₄O₄, exhibits an anti glycosylic bond conformation, with a χ torsion angle of −124.7 (3)°. The furanose moiety shows a twisted C2′‐endo sugar pucker (S‐type), with P = 169.8 (3)° and τ_m = 38.7 (2)°. The orientation of the exocyclic C4′—C5′ bond is +sc (gauche, gauche), with a γ torsion angle of 59.3 (3)°. The nucleobases are stacked head‐to‐head. The extended crystal structure is a three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bond network involving O—H...O, O—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds. The crystal structure of the title nucleoside demonstrates that the C—C bonds nearest the F atom of the pyrrole system are significantly shortened by the electronegative halogen atom.     

Synthesis,Base Pairing,and Fluorescence Properties of Oligonucleotides Containing 1H‐Pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐6‐amine (8‐Aza‐7‐deazapurin‐2‐amine) as an Analogue of Purin‐2‐amine

The synthesis of the N⁹‐ and N⁸‐(β‐D ‐2′‐deoxyribonucleosides) 2 and 10 , respectively, of 8‐aza‐7‐deazapurin‐2‐amine (=1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidin‐6‐amine) is described. The fluorescence properties and the stability of the N‐glycosylic bond of 2 were determined and compared with those of the 2′‐deoxyribonucleosides 1 and 3 of purin‐2‐amine and 7‐deazapurin‐2‐amine respectively. From the nucleoside 2 , the phosphoramidite 14 was prepared, and oligonucleotides were synthesized. Duplexes containing compound 1 or 2 are slightly less stable than those containing 2′‐deoxyadenosine, while their CD spectra are rather different. The fluorescence of the nucleosides is strongly quenched (>95%) in single‐stranded as well as in duplex DNA. The residual fluorescence was used to determine the melting profiles, which gave T_m values similar to those determined from the UV melting curves.     

Optically Active Hexaazamacrocycles: Protonation Behavior and Chiral‐Anion Recognition

The protonation features of two optically active 22‐membered hexaazamacrocycles possessing one ( L1 ) or two ( L2 ) (R,R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diamine moieties have been studied by means of potentiometric ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR techniques. This study allows the determination of the basicity constants and the stepwise protonation sites. The presence of the cyclohexane decreases the protonation ability, and this effect can be explained in terms of conformational and electrostatic factors. Binding of different chiral dicarboxylates has been studied by potentiometry. Macrocycle L2 presents higher anion‐complexation equilibrium constants than L1 . The stability of the diastereoisomeric complexes depends on the pH, and the structures of the macrocycles and anions. Receptor L1 ⋅6 H⁺ shows moderate D ‐selectivity towards tartrate anion, whereas L2 ⋅6 H⁺ exhibits a good preference for N‐Ac‐D ‐aspartate. Both protonated L1 and L2 form strong complexes with N‐Ac‐glutamate, and the stoichiometry of the complex depends on the degree of protonation and the absolute configuration of the anion. For this last anion, both azamacrocycles exhibit a clear D ‐preference.     

7‐Iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanine ribonucleoside: crystal structure,physical properties,base‐pair stability and functionalization

The positional change of nitrogen‐7 of the RNA constituent guanosine to the bridgehead position‐5 leads to the base‐modified nucleoside 5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanosine. Contrary to guanosine, this molecule cannot form Hoogsteen base pairs and the Watson–Crick proton donor site N3—H becomes a proton‐acceptor site. This causes changes in nucleobase recognition in nucleic acids and has been used to construct stable `all‐purine' DNA and DNA with silver‐mediated base pairs. The present work reports the single‐crystal X‐ray structure of 7‐iodo‐5‐aza‐7‐deazaguanosine, C<sub>10</sub>H<sub>12</sub>IN<sub>5</sub>O<sub>5</sub> ( 1 ). The iodinated nucleoside shows an anti conformation at the glycosylic bond and an N conformation (O4′‐endo) for the ribose moiety, with an antiperiplanar orientation of the 5′‐hydroxy group. Crystal packing is controlled by interactions between nucleobase and sugar moieties. The 7‐iodo substituent forms a contact to oxygen‐2′ of the ribose moiety. Self‐pairing of the nucleobases does not take place. A Hirshfeld surface analysis of 1 highlights the contacts of the nucleobase and sugar moiety (O—H…O and N—H…O). The concept of pK‐value differences to evaluate base‐pair stability was applied to purine–purine base pairing and stable base pairs were predicted for the construction of `all‐purine' RNA. Furthermore, the 7‐iodo substituent of 1 was functionalized with benzofuran to detect motional constraints by fluorescence spectroscopy.     

Hydrogen Bonding of Fluorinated Saccharides in Solution: F Acting as H‐Bond Acceptor in a Bifurcated H‐Bond of 4‐Fluorinated Levoglucosans

4‐Fluorinated levoglucosans were synthesised to test if OH???F H‐bonds are feasible even when the O???F distance is increased. The fluorinated 1,6‐anhydro‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoses were synthesised from 1,6 : 3,4‐dianhydro‐β‐D ‐galactopyranose ( 8 ). Treatment of 8 with KHF₂ and KF gave 43% of 4‐deoxy‐4‐fluorolevoglucosan ( 9 ), which was transformed into the 3‐O‐protected derivatives 13 by silylation and 15 by silylation, acetylation, and desilylation. 4‐Deoxy‐4‐methyllevoglucosan ( 19 ) and 4‐deoxylevoglucosan ( 21 ) were prepared as reference compounds that can only form a bivalent H‐bond from HO? C(2) to O? C(5). They were synthesised from the ⁱPr₃Si‐protected derivative of 8 . Intramolecular bifurcated H‐bonds from HO? C(2) to F? C(4) and O? C(5) of the 4‐fluorinated levoglucosans in CDCl₃ solution are evidenced by the ¹H‐NMR scalar couplings ^h1J(F,OH) and ³J(H,OH). The OH???F H‐bond over an O???F distance of ca. 3.0 Å is thus formed in apolar solvents, at least when favoured by the simultaneous formation of an OH???O H‐bond.