Enzymatic and chemical stability of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydropyrimidine nucleosides: potential anti-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome agents

The enzymatic and chemical stability of three 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydropyrimidine nucleosides has been studied. Chemical degradtion of the analogues was measured in the pH range of 1.0-9.0. 2',3'-Dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrocytidine (DDCN) degraded rapidly under acidic conditions, but the chemical stability was greater under basic conditions. The chemical degradation of 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrouridine (DDUN) and 2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydrothymidine (DDTN) was not pH dependent and was faster than that of cytarabine. Enzymatic degradation of DDCN, DDUN and DDTN was not observed in human plasma, though cytarabine was degraded enzymatically under the same conditions. DDCN was also not degraded in the presence of mouse kidney cytidine deaminase.     

2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides: synthesis,stereospecificity, some chemical transformations,and conformational analysis

The synthesis of methyl 5-O-benzoyl-2-chloro-2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-beta-d-ribofuranoside (5) and its use as a glycosylating agent for persilylated thymine, N(6)-benzoyladenine, and N(4)-benzoylcytosine are described (Scheme 1). The 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides 10-12 synthesized were transformed to 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-alpha- and -beta-d-erythro-pentofuranoside nucleosides of thymine (13a,b), adenine (14a,b), and cytidine (15a,b) by treatment with tributyltin hydride in the presence of alpha,alpha'-azobisisobutyronitrile (Scheme 2). Treatment of 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides with 1 M MeONa/MeOH under reflux for 1-5 h afforded 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-chloro-d-pentofuranosyl nucleosides as the principal products (47-81%) of the reaction, along with recovered starting nucleoside (11-33%) (Scheme 3). Easy HF elimination was also observed in the case of the 2'-azido-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-beta-d-ribofuranosides of thymine (17) and adenine (20) (Scheme 3). The role of conformational peculiarities of 2'-chloro-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-fluoro-d-ribonucleosides as well as of 17 and 20 in the observed exclusive elimination of HF is discussed. The conformational analysis of a rather broad palette of 2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-2-(X-substituted)-d-ribofuranosides was performed with the aid of the PSEUROT (version 6.3) program, using (i) the recently reparametrized Karplus-type relation (Chattopadhyaya and co-workers. J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 4967) and (ii) empirical bond angle correction terms suggested by us. The predictive power of the Brunck and Weinhold model (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1979, 101, 1700) of the gauche effect between atoms and groups as a conformational driving force acting upon the pentofuranose ring is explored. Their model invokes maximum antiperiplanar sigma <--> sigma stabilization when the donating bond is the least polar one and the acceptor orbital is at the most polarized bond and is found at least as satisfactory, and in various specific cases more so than, as rationalizations on the basis of the preference of the gauche vs the trans conformation of two vicinal electronegative substituents (Wolfe. Acc. Chem. Res. 1972, 5, 102).     

Stereoselective synthesis and conformational study of novel 2',3'-Didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-4'-selenonucleosides

Stereoselective synthesis of novel 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxy-4'-selenonucleosides (4'-seleno-d4Ns) 4a- c was accomplished via 4'-selenoribofuranosyl pyrimidines 11a- c, as key intermediates. 4'-Selenoribofuranosyl pyrimidines 11a- c were efficiently synthesized from d-ribose or d-gulonic gamma-lactone using a Pummerer-type condensation as a key step. Introduction of 2',3'-double bond was achieved by treating cyclic 2',3'-thiocarbonate with 1,3-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,3,2-diazaphospholidine.     

Enantiomeric syntheses of conformationally restricted D- and L-2', 3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleosides from carbohydrate chiral templates

D- and L-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleosides were synthesized as potential antiviral agents. The key intermediates 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentofuranoses (20 and 33, respectively) were obtained by selective protection of the D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentose derivatives 19 and 32 which were prepared from 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-D-mannitol and L-gulonic gamma-lactone, respectively, and converted to 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-D- and L-2,3-dideoxy-2, 3-endo-methylenepentofuranosyl acetates (21 and 34, respectively) or the chlorides 22 and 35. The acetates and chlorides were condensed with pyrimidine and purine bases by Vorbrüggen conditions or S(N)2-type condensation. Vorbrüggen conditions using the acetates gave mostly alpha-isomers. In contrast, S(N)2-type condensation using the chlorides greatly improved the beta/alpha ratio. From the synthesis, several D- and L-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-endo-methylene nucleoside analogues have been obtained, and their structures have been elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The synthesized D- and L-adenine derivatives were tested as substrates of adenosine deaminase, which indicated that the D-adenosine derivative 4a was a good substrate of a mammalian adenosine deaminase from calf intestinal mucosa (EC 3.5.4.4) while its L-enantiomer 10a was a poor substrate. Either the D-adenine derivative 4a or its L-enantiomer 10a did not serve as an inhibitor of the enzyme.     

Synthesis of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-4'-ethynyl-D- and -L-furanosyl nucleosides

An efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-4'-ethynyl D- and L-furanosyl nucleosides (1 and 2) starting from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde. The key intermediate 1-O-benzoyl-3E-fluoro-3,4-unsaturated-5,6-di(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-hexanone 8 was obtained in nine steps with the overall yield of 22%. The alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone 8 was then treated with ethynylmagnesium bromide in a typical Grignard reaction procedure to afford the two intermediates 9 and 10, which after deprotection, oxidation, and acetylation gave the corresponding 4-ethynyl-substituted D- and L-sugar moieties 15 and 16, respectively. A series of D- and L-pyrimidine and purine nucleosides were prepared by the coupling of the sugar moieties with various silylprotected bases. The anomeric mixtures were obtained after condensation. After separation, the beta-isomers were further deprotected to yield the target nucleosides. All the newly synthesized 4'-substituted nucleosides were tested for their activities against HIV, among which the D-adenine derivative showed moderate anti-HIV activity (EC(50) = 25.1 microM) without significant cytotoxicity.     

Efficient synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-amino-3'-thiouridine

[reaction: see text] Metal ion rescue experiments provide a powerful approach to establish the presence and role of divalent metal ions in the biological function of RNA. The utility of this approach depends on the availability of suitable nucleoside analogues. To expand the range of this experimental strategy, we describe the first synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-amino-3'-thiouridine (12) in 19.5% overall yield starting from 2,2'-anhydrouridine (1).     

Synthesis of novel L-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-4'- thiocytidines from alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester

A short and efficient synthesis of L-2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethyl-4'-thiocytidines is described. (2R,4S/2S,4S)-5-(tert-Butyldimethylsiloxy)-2-trifluoromethylpentan-4-olide (3a and 3b) are prepared from alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester (1) in three steps and converted to compounds 6a and 6b. The corresponding 1-O-acetyl derivatives 8a and 8b were obtained via the usual Pummerer rearrangement from 6a and 6b in two steps, which were in turn used to synthesize L-4'-thiocytidines 10a and 10b.     

Synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethylnucleosides from alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester

The treatment of alpha-bromo-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 2 with FSO(2)CF(2)CO(2)Me and CuI in DMF/HMPA constitutes a new synthetic scheme for the preparation of alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha, beta-unsaturated esters 3. The trifluoromethylation of (Z)/(E)-ethyl 3-[(S)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-2-bromo-2-propenoate (2e), which is derived from 1-(R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide, yields the key intermediate alpha-trifluoromethyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters 3e. This is transformed into anomeric acetates 8a and 8b and is used for the synthesis of a number of 2', 3'-dideoxy-2'-trifluoromethylnucleosides.     

Phosphodiester cleavage of guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine): rate acceleration by the 2'-amino function

Hydrolytic reactions of the structural analogue of guanylyl-(3',3')-uridine, guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine), having one of the 2'-hydroxyl groups replaced with an amino function, have been followed by RP HPLC in the pH range 0-13 at 90 degrees C. The results are compared to those obtained earlier with guanylyl-(3',3')-uridine, guanylyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine), and uridylyl-(3',5')-uridine. Under basic conditions (pH > 8), the hydroxide ion-catalyzed cleavage of the P-O3' bond (first-order in [OH(-)]) yields a mixture of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine and guanosine 2',3'-cyclic phosphate which is hydrolyzed to guanosine 2'- and 3'-phosphates. Under these conditions, guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine) is 10 times less reactive than guanylyl-(3',3')-uridine. Under acidic and neutral conditions (pH 3-8), where the pH-rate profile for the cleavage consists of two pH-independent regions (from pH 3 to pH 4 and from 6 to 8), guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine) is considerably reactive. For example, in the latter pH range, guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine) is more than 2 orders of magnitude more labile than guanylyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine), while in the former pH range the reactivity difference is 1 order of magnitude. Under very acidic conditions (pH < 3), the isomerization giving guanylyl-(2',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine) and depurination yielding guanine (both first-order in [H(+)]) compete with the cleavage. The Zn(2+)-promoted cleavage ([Zn(2+)] = 5 mmol L(-)(1)) is 15 times faster than the uncatalyzed reaction at pH 5.6. The mechanisms of the reactions of guanylyl-(3',3')-(2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine) are discussed, particularly focusing on the possible stabilization of phosphorane intermediate and/or transition state via an intramolecular hydrogen bonding by the 2'-amino group.     

Facilitated Intramolecular Conjugate Addition of Amides of 3-(3',6'-Dioxo-2',4'-dimethyl-1',4'-cyclohexadienyl)-3,3-dimethylpropionic Acid. 2. Kinetics of Degradation

The chemical stability studies of amides of 3-(3',6'-dioxo-2',4'-dimethyl-1',4'-cyclohexadienyl)-3,3-dimethylpropionic acid (Qa) [Qop(a-j)] were conducted in order to determine the utility of this redox-sensitive system as a potential prodrug promoiety or redox-sensitive protecting group in organic synthesis. This study showed that quinone propionic amides of aniline derivatives [Qop(a-d)] underwent rapid degradation in mildly acidic conditions (pH 4.5-6.0) to yield degradation products resulting from the intramolecular 1,2- or 1,4- conjugate addition of the amide nitrogen to the quinone ring. This conjugate addition was found to be specific base-catalyzed and independent of the para substituent on the aromatic ring of the amine. The predominant route of degradation yielded a five-membered ring spirolactam. By altering the nature of the amine component of the amide, these degradation reactions were prevented. Amides of Qa other than those of the aniline type [Qop(e-j)] were found to be substantially more stable and were thus proposed as the more suitable candidates for this potential redox-sensitive prodrug system and redox-sensitive protecting group for amines and alcohols in organic synthesis.     

Hydrolytic stability of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl 2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl 5'-O-methylurid-3'(2')-yl phosphate: implications to feasibility of existence of phosphate-branched RNA under physiological conditions

Hydrolytic reactions of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl 2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl 5'-O-methylurid-3'(2')-yl phosphate (1a,b) have been followed by RP-HPLC over a wide pH range to evaluate the feasibility of occurrence of phosphate-branched RNA under physiological conditions. At pH <2, where the decomposition of is first order in [H3O+], the P-O5' bond is cleaved 1.5 times as rapidly as the P-O3' bond. Under these conditions, the reaction probably proceeds by an attack of the 2'-OH on the phosphotriester monocation. Over a relatively wide range from pH 2 to 5, the hydrolysis is pH-independent, referring to rapid initial deprotonation of the attacking 2'-OH followed by general acid catalyzed departure of the leaving nucleoside. The P-O5' bond is cleaved 3 times as rapidly as the P-O3' bond. At pH 6, the reaction becomes first order in [HO-], consistent with an attack of the 2'-oxyanion on neutral phosphate. The product distribution is gradually inversed: in 10 mmol L(-1) aqueous sodium hydroxide, cleavage of the P-O3' bond is favored over P-O5' by a factor of 7.3. The results of the present study suggest that the half-life for the cleavage of under physiological conditions is only 100 s. Even at pH 2, where is most stable, the half-life for its cleavage is less than one hour and the isomerization between and is even more rapid than cleavage. The mechanisms of the partial reactions are discussed.     

Hydrolysis of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate, a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate: implications for the mechanism of large ribozymes

Hydrolytic reactions of 2',3'-O-methyleneadenos-5'-yl bis(2',5'-di-O-methylurid-3'-yl) phosphate (1), a sugar O-alkylated trinucleoside 3',3',5'-monophosphate, have been followed by RP HPLC over a wide pH range. Under neutral and mildly acidic conditions, the only reaction observed was a pH-independent cleavage of the O-C5' bond of the 5'-linked nucleoside. Under more alkaline conditions nucleophilic attack by hydroxide ion starts to compete. The reaction is first order in [OH(-)] and becomes predominant at pH 10. Each of the 3'-linked nucleosides is displaced 2.9 times as readily as the 5'-linked one. To determine the beta(lg) value for the hydroxide ion catalyzed hydrolysis of 1, two diesters (2a,b) having 2',3'-O-methyleneadenosine (7) and 2',5'-di-O-methyluridine (4) as leaving groups were hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions. Since the beta(lg) value for this reaction is known, DeltapK(a) between 4 and 7 could be calculated. The beta(lg) for the hydrolysis of 1 was estimated to be -0.5 with use of this information. The mechanisms of the partial reactions and the role of leaving group properties in ribozyme reactions of large ribozymes are discussed.     

Hydrolytic reactions of guanosyl-(3',3')-uridine and guanosyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine)

Hydrolytic reactions of guanosyl-(3',3')-uridine and guanosyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine) have been followed by RP HPLC over a wide pH range at 363.2 K in order to elucidate the role of the 2'-hydroxyl group as a hydrogen-bond donor upon departure of the 3'-uridine moiety. Under neutral and basic conditions, guanosyl-(3',3')-uridine undergoes hydroxide ion-catalyzed cleavage (first order in [OH(-)]) of the P-O3' bonds, giving uridine and guanosine 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates, which are subsequently hydrolyzed to a mixture of 2'- and 3'-monophosphates. This bond rupture is 23 times as fast as the corresponding cleavage of the P-O3' bond of guanosyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine) to yield 2',5'-O-dimethyluridine and guanosine 2',3'-cyclic phosphate. Under acidic conditions, where the reactivity differences are smaller, depurination and isomerization compete with the cleavage. The effect of Zn(2+) on the cleavage of the P-O3' bonds of guanosyl-(3',3')-uridine is modest: about 6-fold acceleration was observed at [Zn(2+)] = 5 mmol L(-)(1) and pH 5.6. With guanosyl-(3',3')-(2',5'-di-O-methyluridine) the rate-acceleration effect is greater: a 37-fold acceleration was observed. The mechanisms of the partial reactions, in particular the effects of the 2'-hydroxyl group on the departure of the 3'-linked nucleoside, are discussed.     

Synthesis of 2',3'-dideoxy-6',6'-difluorocarbocyclic nucleosides

2',3'-Dideoxy-6',6'-difluorouracils, a novel series of gem-difluoromethylenated carbocyclic nucleosides, were synthesized from (Z)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol in 14 steps. A notable step was the construction of the carbocyclic ring via ring-closing metathesis and the incorporation of gem-difluoromethylene group by way of silicon-induced Reformatskii-Claisen reaction of chlorodifluoroacetic ester 3.     

2',3'-Dideoxy-3'-thionucleoside triphosphates: syntheses and polymerase substrate activities

All four 2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thio-nucleosides (ddtNTPs) function as substrates for the Y410F mutant of Deep Vent (exo-) DNA polymerase. Not only are the ddtNTPs incorporated to form the N + 1 product, but further elongations are observed in which the key step is attack of the 3'-thiol on the 5'-triphosphate. Although other polymerases are likely to differ in their use of the ddtNTPs, there does not appear to be a fundamental prohibition against using a thiol nucleophile on a phosphate anhydride electrophile. The syntheses of four ddtNTPs (C, T, A, G) are described. [structure: see text]     

High performance liquid chromatography analysis of 9-(2',3'-dideoxy-2'beta-fluoro-D-threo-penta furanosyl) adenine and its metabolite in human plasma using solid-phase extraction on a polyfluorinated reversed stationary phase.

A quick and sensitive reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed for the analysis of 2'-beta -fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy adenosine (F-ddA), the acid-stable anti-AIDS drug, and its metabolite 2'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy inosine (F-ddI) in human plasma using polyfluorinated stationary phase column (Fluo fix, 15 cm, 4.0 mm i.d., 5 microm particle size). The mobile phase consisted of ammonium phosphate buffer solution (10 mM) adjusted with phosphoric acid 85% to pH 6.8:dimethyl formamide (97:3, v/v). F-ddA and F-ddI were monitored by UV-visible detector at 258 and 247 nm, respectively. The recoveries of F-ddA and F-ddI from plasma using a C(18) solid-phase extraction cartridge were 99.2% and 99.7%, respectively.     

A novel nitroimidazole compound formed during the reaction of peroxynitrite with 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-guanosine.

Peroxynitrite reacts with 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-guanosine to yield a novel compound identified as 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole (6). This characterization was achieved using a combination of UV/vis spectroscopy and ESI-MS. Additionally, 1-(beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole (6a) was synthesized by an independent route, characterized by UV/vis spectroscopy, ESI-MS, and (1)H- and (13)C NMR, and shown to be identical to deacetylated 6. This product is extremely stable in aqueous solution at both pH extremes and is formed in significant yields. These characteristics suggest that this lesion may be useful as a specific biomarker of peroxynitrite-induced DNA damage. We also observed formation of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-8-nitroguanosine (2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-8-NO(2)()Guo), 2-amino-5-[(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)amino]-4H-imidazol-4-one (2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-Iz), and the peroxynitrite-induced oxidation products of 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-8-oxoGuo. The formation of 6 and 2',3',5'-tri-O-acetyl-8-NO(2)()Guo was rationalized by a mechanism invoking formation of the guanine radical.     

New synthesis of 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides.

The 3'-iodonucleoside 4 and the 3'-O-methylsulfonylthymidine 9 have been synthesized by condensation of silylated uracils 2 with methyl 5-O-tert-butyldiphensilyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-iodo-D-threo-pentofuran oside (3) and methyl 5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2-deoxy-3-methylsulfonyl-D-erythro- pentofuranoside (8), respectively. The nucleoside 4 and 9 produced the corresponding 2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxynucleosides 5 in an elimination reaction on treatment with sodium methoxide. The compounds 5b showed no antiviral activity against HIV-1.     

2',3'-二脱氧-2',3'-二去氢鸟嘌呤核苷构象稳定性的理论研究

采用密度泛函方法在B3LYP/6-31＋G**水平上研究了2',3'-二脱氧-2',3'-二去氢鸟嘌呤核苷分子(D4G)的构象. 分别研究在气相中的孤立分子和一水合物异构体的相对稳定性和异构体之间的相互转变过程, 分析了水分子的参与对D4G异构体的相对稳定性和几何结构参数以及自然电荷的影响. 结果表明, 孤立的D4G分子在气相中存在8种稳定构象, 其中构象d4g-2是所有构象中最稳定的, 气相中D4G主要以d4g-2存在. 气相中各构象的相对稳定性为: d4g-2＞d4g-1＞d4g-5＞d4g-3＞d4g-6＞d4g-4＞d4g-8＞d4g-7. 计算得到的各构象键长和键角数据与实验值接近. 一个水分子的加入对D4G分子的构型参数有所影响, 基本不改变D4G分子各构象的稳定性顺序, 但构象转变的能垒有所提高. 氢键在分子构象中发挥了重要作用.