Synthesis of 2′-Deoxyisoguanosine 5′-Triphosphate and 2′-Deoxy-5-methylisocytidine 5′-Triphosphate

The syntheses of the 5′-triphosphates of 2′-deoxyisoguanosine (=p₃isoG_d) and 2′-deoxy-5-methylisocytidine (=p₃me⁵isoC_d), two new bases for the genetic alphabet, are described. The triphosphates were synthesized from the corresponding nucleosides using a transient-protection procedure. The introduction of a methyl group at the 5-position of 2′-deoxyisocytidine remarkably improved the stability of the triphosphate. Characterization of the triphosphates included enzymatic incorporation opposite the complementary base in a template oligonucleotide.     

3′,4′-Diethynl-2′,3′,5′-trideoxy-5′-noruridine: A new self-polymerizable 2′-deoxyribonucleoside analogue

In 10 steps, 3′,4′-diethynyl-2′,3′,5′-trideoxy-5′-noruridine ( 14 ) was synthesized in 5% overall yield from commercial uridine, using conventional methods of nucleoside chemistry. As two functional groups capable to react with each other are present in the same molecule, the synthetic compound is able to form polymers, similar to the polynucleotides, by an acetylene coupling reaction.     

Synthesis of various 5-substituted 2′-deoxy-3′-5′-di-O-acetyluridines

The Pd(0)-catalyzed coupling reaction of β-5-iodo-2′-deoxy-3′,5′-di-O-acetyluridine with various heteroaryltrimethylstannyl compounds gave the corresponding β-5-heteroaryl-2′-deoxy-3′,5′-di-O-acetyluridines in moderate yields. This direct coupling approach for nucleosides represented an interesting alternative to the 5-heteroaryl functionalization of pyrimidines followed by the Hilbert-Johnson glycosylation reaction which often yields mixtures of the α and β anomers.     

Carbocyclic 5′‐norcytidine (5′‐norcarbodine)

A preparation of (1′R,2′S,3′R,4′S)‐1‐(2′,3′,4′‐trihydroxycyclopent‐1′‐yl)‐lH‐cytosine (5′‐norcarbodine, 3 ) has formally been achieved in 2 steps from (+)‐(1R,4S)‐4‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclopenten‐1‐yl acetate ( 4 ) and cytosine. The L‐like enantiomer of 3 (that is, 6 ) is also reported using the enantiomer of 4 (that is, 7 ). In evalu ating 3 and 6 for antiviral potential against a number of viruses, compound 3 was found to have activity towards Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV).     

Asymmetric Synthesis of (S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′,5′-Hexafluoroleucine

(S)-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-Hexafluoroleucine ((S)- 13 ) of 81 % ee is prepared from hexafluoroacetone ( l ) and ethyl bromopyruvate (= ethyl 2-oxopropanoate) in 7 steps with an overall yield of 18% (Schemes 1 and 2). Key step in this sequence is the highly enantioselective reduction of the carbonyl group in α-keto ester 4 either by bakers' yeast (91 % ee) or by ‘catecholborane’ 6 utilizing an oxazaborolidine catalyst, yielding hydroxy ester (R)- 5 with 99% ee. The absolute configuration was determined by X-ray analysis of the HCl adduct (S,R)- 9b of (2S)-N-[(R)- l-phenylethyl]-5,5,5,5′,5′,5′-hexafluoroleucine ethyl ester.     

Aza-Claisen Rearrangement: Synthesis of 5′-branched 5′-aminothymidines

The syntheses of both diastereoisomers of 5′-ethyl-substituted thymidine dimers, the (5′R)- and (5′S)-configurated 33a and 33b respectively, in which the natural phosphodiester linkage is replaced by an amide group (C(3′)-CH₂CONH-CH(5′)(Et)), arc described. Their fully protected derivatives 35a and 35b , respectively, are suitable for incorporation into antisense oligonucleotides. Unexpectedly, an attempted Pd^II-catalysed aza-Claisen rearrangement of trichloroacetimidate 7 provided the diastereoisomerically pure cyclopropane derivative 17 , whose structure was confirmed by X-ray analysis.     

Nucleotides part XXX Chemical synthesis of adenylyl-(2′ → 5′)-adenylyl-(2′ → 5′)-8-azidoadenosine,and activation and photoaffinity labelling of RNase L by [32P]p5′A2′p5′A2′p5′N38A

The chemical synthesis of adenylyl-(2′–5′)-adenylyl-(2′–5′)-8-azidoadenosine ( 15 ) was performed by the phosphotriester approach. Enzymatic phosphorylation of 15 by [γ-³²P]ATP led to the corresponding labelled 5′-monophosphate 16 . Photoinsertion of 16 took place on UV irradiation by covalent cross linking to a protein of M_r 80 K known to be RNase L. Radiobinding and core-cellulose assays as well as photoaffinity labelling experiments with 16 are described.     

Selective 5′-desilylation of 3′,5′-disilyi AraU derivatives under basic conditions

3′,5′-di-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-2,2′-anhydrouridine 3 was hydrolyzed under basic conditions to yield selectively 3′-tert-butyldimethylsilylarabinouridine 5 in 85 % yield. 3′,5′-disilyl-arabinouridine derivatives 4 and 6 also led selectively to 5 under the same conditions. These reactions suggest an intramolecular participation of the 2′-hydroxyl group in the desilylation and can be used to prepare rapidly and in high yield 3′-silylaraU derivatives.     

Reactions of 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran

Formylation of 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 1 ) with N-methylformanilide and phosphorus oxychloride gave 5-formyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 2 ) and 5,5′-diformyl-2,2′5′,2′-terfuran ( 3 ). Reduction of 2 and 3 afforded 5-hydroxymethyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 4 ) and 5,5′ dihydroxymethyl-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 5 ), respectively. Terfuran 1 reacted with phenylmagnesium bromide to give 5-(phenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 6 ), and was carbonated to 5-carboxy 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 7 ) and 5,5′-dicarboxy-2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 8 ). Bromination of 1 with N-bromosuccinimide gave 5,5′-dibromo 2,2′,5′,2′-terfuran ( 9 ).     

New heterocyclic derivatives of 1′- and 3′-amino-5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-2′-acetonaphthones

The preparation of 1′-and 3′-amino-5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-2′-acetonaphthones (IIIa and IIIb) is described, by reduction of the low temperature nitration products of 5′,6′,7′,8′-tetrahydro-2′-acetonaphtone (I). The structures of the nitro isomers (IIa and IIb), and the reduction products, IIIa and IIIb, were elucidated spectroscopically. By known reactions, a series of new heterocyclic compounds prepared from the o-aminoketones, IIIa and IIIb, resulted in two series of new heterocyclic compounds.     

Colchicine models: Synthesis and Antitubulin Activity of 2′-Monosubstituted and 2′, 5-Disubstituted 2,3,4,4′-Tetramethoxy-1,1′-biphenyls. Synthesis of 4,4′, 5′, 6′-tetramethoxy-1,1′-biphenyl-2,3′-dicarboxylic acid

Reductive amination of 2,3,4,4′-tetramethoxtybiphenyl-2-carbaldehyde ( 4 ) with MeNH₂ afforded methylamine 5 (Scheme 1), Hydroxymethylation of amine 8 , prepared similarly from 4 by reductive amination with benzylamine followed by N-methylation, afforded alcohol 12 which was converted the 5-methyl-substituted methylamine 14 by conventional chemical reactions (Scheme 2), Methylamine 14 was also obtained from ester 16 after hydroxymethylation to alcohol 17 and conventional manipulation of alcohol and ester functions (Scheme 2). Both amines 5 and 14 as well as the 2′, 5-dimethyl-substituted biphenyl 26 prepared from the dialdehyde 25 by a Wolff-Kishner reduction, did not show noteworthy activity in the tubulin binding assay or as inhibitors of tubulin polymerization (Table). However, the 2′ethyl-substituted biphebyl 11 prepared from 4 by reaction with MeLi followed by dehyderation and catalytic reduction of styrene 10 (Scheme 1) showed appreciable activity in both assays, coming close to that of known phenyltropolone models. The X-ray analysis of 14 ·HCl and 11 showed significant difference in the orientation of the rings with respect to one another (Fig.).     

Synthetic approaches to 4,8‐dimethyl‐5′‐(N‐pyridiniummethyl)‐ 4′,5′‐dihydropsoralens and 4,8‐dimethyl‐5′‐ (N‐aminomethyl)‐ 4′,5′‐dihydropsoralens

New synthetic approaches to 4,8‐dimethyl‐5′‐(N‐pyridiniummethyl)‐4′,5′‐dihydropsoralens and 4,8‐dimemyl‐5′‐(N‐aminomethyl)‐4′,5′‐dihydropsoralens are described. The 5′‐halomethyl‐4′,5′‐dihydro‐psoralen precursors are formed by electrophilic ring closures of 4,8‐dimethyl‐6‐allyl‐7‐hydroxycoumarin. The ring‐closure reactions may also be applied to the synthesis of 5′‐halomethyl‐4‐methyl‐4′,5′‐dihydroangelicins. The compounds are potential therapeutic agents for improved psoralen ultraviolet A radiation treatment.     

Synthesis of (5′S)‐5′‐C‐Alkyl‐2′‐deoxynucleosides

We describe the synthesis of (5′S)‐5′‐C‐butylthymidine ( 5a ), of the (5′S)‐5′‐C‐butyl‐ and the (5′S)‐5′‐C‐isopentyl derivatives 16a and 16b of 2′‐deoxy‐5‐methylcytidine, as well as of the corresponding cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 9a , b and 14a , b , respectively. Starting from thymidin‐5′‐al 1 , the alkyl chain at C(5′) is introduced via Wittig chemistry to selectively yield the (Z)‐olefin derivatives 3a and 3b (Scheme 2). The secondary OH function at C(5′) is then introduced by epoxidation followed by regioselective reduction of the epoxy derivatives 4a and 4b with diisobutylaluminium hydride. In the latter step, a kinetic resolution of the diastereoisomer mixture 4a and 4b occurs, yielding the alkylated nucleoside 2a and 2b , respectively, with (5′S)‐configuration in high diastereoisomer purity (de=94%). The corresponding 2′‐deoxy‐5‐methylcytidine derivatives are obtained from the protected 5′‐alkylated thymidine derivatives 7a and 7b via known base interconversion processes in excellent yields (Scheme 3). Application of the same strategy to the purine nucleoside 2′‐deoxyadenine to obtain 5′‐C‐butyl‐2′‐deoxyadenosine 25 proved to be difficult due to the sensitivity of the purine base to hydride‐based reducing agents (Scheme 4).     

Synthesis of 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-thiopyrans] and 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro-[isobenzofuran-1,4′-pyrans]

The 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-thiopyran] ring system ( 2a ) has been prepared from o-bromobenzoic acid. The 1,2′,3,3′,5′,6′-hexahydro-3-phenylspiro[isobenzofuran-1,4′-pyran] ring system ( 3a ) has been prepared from 2-bromobenzhydrol methyl ether. Several 3-(dimethylaminoalkyl) derivatives of both 2a and 3a were prepared by lithiation followed by alkylation.