Synthesis and properties of 5-(1,2-dihaloethyl)-2′-deoxyuridines and related analogues

The regiospecific reaction of 5-vinyl-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 2 ) with HOX (X = Cl, Br, I) yielded the corresponding 5-(1-hydroxy-2-haloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines 3a-c . Alternatively, reaction of 2 with iodine monochloride in aqueous acetonitrile also afforded 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3c ). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 3a ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with DAST (Et₂NSF₃) in methylene chloride at -40° gave the respective 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6a , 74%) and 5-(1-fluoro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6b , 65%). In contrast, 5-(1-fluoro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6e ) could not be isolated due to its facile reaction with methanol, ethanol or water to yield the corresponding 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)- ( 6c ), 5-(1-ethoxy-2-iodoethyl)- ( 6d ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3c ). Treatment of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 3a ) and 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with thionyl chloride yielded the respective 5-(1,2-dichloroethyl)- ( 6f , 85%) and 5-(1-chloro-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6g , 50%), whereas a similar reaction employing the 5-(1-hydroxy-2-iodoethyl)- compound 3c afforded 5-(1-methoxy-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6c ), possibly via the unstable 5-(1-chloro-2-iodoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine intermediate 6h . The 5-(1-bromo-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6i ) and 5-(1,2-dibromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6j ) could not be isolated due to their facile conversion to the corresponding 5-(1-ethoxy-2-chloroethyl)- ( 6k ) and 5-(1-ethoxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 61 ). Reaction of 5-(1-hydroxy-2-bromoethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 3b ) with methanolic ammonia, to remove the 3′,5′-di-O-acetyl groups, gave 2,3-dihydro-3-hydroxy-5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-furano[2,3-d]pyrimidine-6(5H)-one ( 8 ). In contrast, a similar reaction of 5-(1-fluoro-2-chloroethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridine ( 6a ) yielded (E)-5-(2-chlorovinyl)-2′-deoxyuridine ( 1b , 23%) and 5-(2′-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)furano[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6(5H)-one ( 9 , 13%). The mechanisms of the substitution and elimination reactions observed for these 5-(1,2-dihaloethyl)-3′,5′-di-O-acetyl-2′-deoxyuridines are described.     

Regioselective Transformations of 2′,3′-Seconucleosides into Anhydro Structures and Chiral Crown Ethers

Intramolecular cyclisation of properly protected and activated derivatives of 2′,3′-secouridine ( = 1-{2-hydroxy-1-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-ethyl}uracil; 1 ) provided access to the 2,2′-, 2,3′-, 2,5′-, 2′,5′-, 3′,5′-, and 2′,3′-anhydro-2′,3′-secouridines 5, 16, 17, 26, 28 , and 31 , respectively (Schemes 1–3). Reaction of 2′,5′-anhydro-3′-O-(methylsulfonyl)- ( 25 ) and 2′,3′-anhydro-5′-O-(methylsulfonyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 32 ) with CH₂CI₂ in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene generated the N(3)-methylene-bridged bis-uridine structure 37 and 36 , respectively (Scheme 3). Novel chiral 18-crown-6 ethers 40 and 44 , containing a hydroxymethyl and a uracil-1-yl or adenin-9-yl as the pendant groups in a 1,3-cis relationship, were synthesized from 5′-O-(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 2 ) and 5′-O,N⁶-bis(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secoadenosine ( 41 ) on reaction with 3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-diyl bis(4-toluenesulfonate) and detritylation of the thus obtained (triphenylmethoxy) methylcompound 39 and 43 , respectively (Scheme 4).     

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.     

Synthesis of 5-Methyluridine and Its 5′-Mercapto-, 2-Amino-, and 4′,5′-Unsaturated Analogues

The stereospecific cis-hydroxylation of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-β-D -glyceropent-2-enofuranosyl)thymine (1) into 1-β-D -ribofuranosylthymine (2) by osmium tetroxide is described. Treatment of 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-2,5′-anhydrouridine (8) with hydrogen sulfide or methanolic ammonia afforded 5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5′-mercapto-5-methyluridine (9) and 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-isocytidine (10) , respectively. The action of ethanolic potassium hydroxide on 5′-deoxy-5′-iodo-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyluridine (7) gave rise to the corresponding 1-(5-deoxy-β-D -erythropent-4-enofuranosyl)5-methyluracil (13) and 2-O-ethyl-5-methyluridine (14) . The hydrogenation of 2 and its 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene derivative 4 over 5% Rh/Al₂O₃ as catalyst generated diastereoisomers of the corresponding 5-methyl-5,6-dihydrouridine ( 17 and 18 ).     

Selective N3- and 5′-O-Alkylation of 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine with methyl iodide

The 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine ( 1 ) reacts with MeI in the presence of an excess of NaH in THF giving 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-methyluridine ( 2 ). Prolonged reaction time gives rise to 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-3,5′-O-dimethyluridine ( 4 ). The use of an equimolar amount of base and alkylating agent results predominantly in methylation at N(3) (→ 3).     

Nucleotides. Part XLV. Synthesis of new (2′–5′)adenylate trimers,containing 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine residues at the 5′-end of the oligoadenylate chain,and of its analogues,carrying a 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus

The 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 4 ) was obtained in pure form from 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 1 ), without isolation of intermediates 2 and 3 . The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl group was used for protection of the NH₂ functions of 4 (→7) . The selective introduction of the palmitoyl (= hexadecanoyl) group into the 5′-N-position of 4 was achieved by its treatment with palmitoyl chloride in MeCN in the presence of Et₃N (→ 5 ). The 3′-O-silyl derivatives 11 and 14 were isolated by column chromatography after treatment of the 2′,3′-O-deprotected compounds 8 and 9 , respectively, with (tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl chloride and 1H-imidazole in pyridine. The corresponding phosphoramidites 16 and 17 were synthesized from nucleosides 11 and 14 , respectively, and (cyanoethoxy)bis(diisopropylamino)phosphane in CH₂Cl₂. The trimeric (2′–5′)-linked adenylates 25 and 26 having the 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine and 5′-deoxy-5′-(palmitoylamino)adenosine residue, respectively, at the 5′-end were prepared by the phosphoramidite method. Similarly, the corresponding 5′-amino derivatives 27 and 28 carrying the 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus, were obtained. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by physical means. The synthesized trimers 25–28 were 3-, 15-, 25-, and 34-fold, respectively, more stable towards phosphodiesterase from Crotalus durissus than the trimer (2′–5′)ApApA.     

8-Aza-7-deaza-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine: Deoxygenation of its 2′deoxy-β-D-ribofuranoside

The synthesis of 6-amino-1-(2′,3′-dideoxy-β-D -glycero-pentofuranosyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4(5H)-one ( =8-aza-7-deaza-2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine; 1 ) from its 2′-deoxyribofuranoside 5a by a five-step deoxygenation route is described. The precursor of 5a, 3a , was prepared by solid-liquid phase-transfer glyscosylation which gave higher yields (57%) than the liquid-liquid method. Ammonoloysis of 3b furnished the diamino nucleoside 3c . Compound 1 was less acid sensitive at the N-glycosydic bond than 2′,3′-dideoxyguanosine ( 2 ).     

2′, 3′-Dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin and Related Dideoxyribonucleosides:. Synthesis via a 2′-deoxy-3′-oxoribofuranoside intermediate and conformation studies

An efficient synthesis of the unknown 2′-deoxy-D-threo-tubercidin ( 1b ) and 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) as well as of the related nucleosides 9a, b and 10b is described. Reaction of 4-chloro-7-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine ( 5 ) with (tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl chloride yielded 6 which gave the 3′-keto nucleoside 7 upon oxidation at C(3′). Stereoselective NaBH₄ reduction (→ 8 ) followed by deprotection with Bu₄NF(→ 9a )and nucleophilic displacement at C(6) afforded 1b as well as 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-D-threo-inosine ( 9b ). Mesylation of 4-chloro-7-{2-deoxy-5-O-[(tert-butyl)diphenylsilyl]-β-D-threo-pentofuranosyl}-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidine ( 8 ), treatment with Bu₄NF (→ 12a ) and 4-halogene displacement gave 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-tubercidin ( 3 ) as well as 2′, 3′-didehydro-2′, 3′-dideoxy-7-deazainosne ( 12c ). On the other hand, 2′, 3′-dideoxy-3′-fluorotubercidin ( 2 ) resulted from 8 by treatment with diethylamino sulfurtrifluoride (→ 10a ), subsequent 5′-de-protection with Bu₄NF (→ 10b ), and Cl/NH₂ displacement. ¹H-NOE difference spectroscopy in combination with force-field calculations on the sugar-modified tubercidin derivatives 1b , 2 , and 3 revealed a transition of the sugar puckering from the ^3′T_2′ conformation for 1b via a planar furanose ring for 3 to the usual ^2′T_3′ conformation for 2.     

Synthesis of 5′-halo-2′,3′-lyxo-epoxy and 2′,3′-unsaturated thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine nucleosides

A series of thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione nucleosides modified in the carbohydrate moiety has been synthesized. In the first part, synthetic routes are described for the replacement of 5′-hydroxyl group in preformed 1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)thieno[3,2-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione I by fluoro, iodo or chloro atoms. Reduction of the 5′-iodo substituent of VI was then carried out catalytically using palladium on carbon as catalyst to give the expected 5′-deoxy derivative VIII. The lyxo-epoxide derivative XII was then synthesized by sequential treatment of the 5′-deoxy-5′-chloro derivative X with methanesulfonyl chloride and with sodium hydroxide. In the second part, most of attention has been devoted to apply different methods reported in the literature that allow access to 2′,3′-olefinic derivatives from the corresponding 2′,3′-dihydroxy precursor. The 5′-O-silyl protected bisxanthate XIV either on reduction with tri-n-butyltin hydride or by reductive elimination of the haloacetate XVI afforded the free 2′,3′-olefin nucleoside after removal of the 5′-protecting group. However none of the compounds in this series exhibited significant antiviral activity against HIV at the doses tested.     

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 ).     

Syntheses and Reactions of 1′,2′-Unsaturated 2′,3′-Seconucleoside Analogues

The 1′,2′-unsaturated 2′,3′-secoadenosine and 2′,3′-secouridine analogues were synthesized by the regioselective elimination of the corresponding 2′,3′-ditosylates, 2 and 18 , respectively, under basic conditions. The observed regioselectivity may be explained by the higher acidity and, hence, preferential elimination of the anomeric H–C(1′) in comparison to H? C(4′). The retained (tol-4-yl)sulfonyloxy group at C(3′) of 3 allowed the preparation of the 3′-azido, 3′-chloro, and 3′-hydroxy derivatives 5–7 by nucleophilic substitution. ZnBr₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ was found to be successful in the removal (85%) of the trityl group without any cleavage of the acid-sensitive, ketene-derived N,O-ketal function. In the uridine series, base-promoted regioselective elimination (→ 19 ), nucleophilic displacement of the tosyl group by azide (→ 20 ), and debenzylation of the protected N(3)-imide function gave 1′,2′-unsaturated 5′-O-trityl-3′-azido-secouridine derivative 21 . The same compound was also obtained by the elimination performed on 2,2′-anhydro-3′-azido-3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-O-2′,3′-secouridine ( 22 ) that reacted with KO(t-Bu) under opening of the oxazole ring and double-bond formation at C(1′).     

A Practical Synthesis of 3′-Thioguanosine and of Its 3′-Phosphoramidothioite (a Thiophosphoramidite)

Starting from guanosine, an efficient method for the synthesis of 3′-thioguanosine (see 13 ) and of its 3′-phosphoramidothioite (see 23 ), suitable for automated incorporation into oligonucleotides, was developed. Reaction of 5′-N²-protected guanosine with 2-acetoxyisobutyryl bromide afforded stereoselectively the 2′-O-acetyl-3′-bromo-β-D -xylofuranosyl derivative 3 , which was converted to a 7 : 3 mixture of the S-acyl ribofuranosyl intermediates 5 or 6 and the 3′,4′-unsaturated by-product 4 . The S-acylated nucleosides 5 and 6 were then converted in three steps to 5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-3′-S-(pyridin-2-ylthio)-3′-thioguanosine ( 11 ), which served as a common intermediate for the preparation of free 3′-thionucleoside 13 and 3′-thionucleoside 3′-phosphoramidothioite 23 .     

Syntheses of 6,8-disubstituted-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphates

A series of 6,8-disubstituted-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphates were prepared employing preformed 9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate precursors. Three synthetic approaches were utilized to accomplish the syntheses. The first approach involved a study of the order of nucleophilic substitution, 6 vs 8, of the intermediate 6,8-dichloro-9-β-D-ribofuranosyipurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphates ( 2 ) with various nucleophilic agents to yield 8-amino-6-chloro-, 8-chloro-6-(diethylamino)-, 6-chloro-8-(diethylamino)-, 6,8-bis-(diethylamino)- and 8-(benzylthio)-6-chloro-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate (4, 9, 10, 11, 13) respectively and 6-chloro-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurin-8-one 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate ( 5 ) and 8-amino-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine-6-thione 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate ( 6 ). The order of substitution was compared to similar substitutions on 6,8-dichloropurines and 6,8-dichloropurine nucleosides. The second scheme utilized nucleophilic substitution of 6-chloro-8-substituted-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic, phosphates obtained from the corresponding 8-subslituted inosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphates by phosphoryl chloride, 6,8-bis-(benzylthio)-, 6-(diethylamino)-8-(benzylthio),8-(p-chlorophenylthio(-6-(diethylamino)- and 6,8-bis-(methyl-thio)-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphates ( 14, 12, 20 , and 21 ) respectively, were prepared in this manner. The final scheme involved N¹-alkylation of an 8-substituted adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate followed by a Dimroth rearrangement to give 6-(benzylamino)-8-(methylthio)- and 6-(benzylamino)-8-bromo-9-β-D-ribofuranosylpurine 3′,5′-cyclic phosphate ( 24 and 25 ).     

Pyrido[2′1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinoline and the alkylation of pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5(6H)-one

The reaction of 2-aminopyridine, o-phthaldehydic acid and potassium cyanide gave pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinolin-5(6H)-one, which upon treatment with propargylbromide, yielded both O and N alkylated products. 2-Aminopyridine, o-phthaldehyde and potassium cyanide gave 1-cyano-2-(2-pyridyl)isoindole which rearranged in acid to give the previously unreported parent pyrido[2′,1′:2,3]imidazo[4,5-c]isoquinole. Structures were confirmed using uv, ir, nmr and x-ray spectroscopy.     

Alkaline condensation of 9,10-phenanthrenedione with N,N-dialkylguanidines. A novel synthesis of 2′-(dialkylamino)spiro[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-5′(3′H)ones

9,10-Phenanthrenedione was reacted with equimolar amounts of N,N-dimethylguanidine or creatine in 0.2 N potassium hydroxide in ethanol-water, 7:3 to obtain 2′-(dimethylamino)spiro-[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-5′(3′H)one or N-(3′,5′-dihydro-5′-oxospiro[9H-fluorene-9,4′-[4H]imidazol]-2′-yl)-N-methylglycine, respectively. These products are the first derivatives of this ring system with 2′-amino substituents. Formation of these products accounts for the previously reported absence of fluorescence when 9,10-phenanthrenedione reacts with N,N-di-substituted guanidines.     

Nucleotides Part LI. Synthesis and biological activities of (2′-5′)adenylate trimer conjugates with 2′-terminal 3′-O(ω-hydroxyalkyl) and 3′-O-(ω-carboxyalkyl) spacers

An efficient strategy for the synthesis of (2′-5′)adenylate trimer conjugates with 2′-terminal 3′-O-(ω-hydroxyalkyl) and 3′-O-(ω-carboxyalkyl) spacers is reported. Npeoc-protected adenosine building blocks 37--40 for phosphoramidite chemistry carrying a 3′-O-[11-(levulinoyloxy)undecyl], 3′-O-{2-[2-(levulinoyloxy)ethoxy]ethyl}, 3′-O-[5-(2-cyanoethoxycarbonyl)pentyl], and 3′-O-{5-[(9H-fluoren-9-ylmethoxy)carbonyl]pentyl} moiety, respectively, were prepared (npeoc = 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl). Condensation with the cordycepin (3′-deoxyadenosine) dimer 1 led to the corresponding trimers 42, 43, 47 , and 48. Whereas the levulinoyl (lev) and 9H-fluoren-9-ylmethyl (fm) blocking groups could be cleaved off selectively from the trimers 42, 43 , and 48 yielding the intermediates 44, 45 , and 49 for the synthesis of the 3′-O-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)trimers 53, 54 and the cholesterol conjugates 59--61 , the 2-cyanoethyl (ce) protecting group of 47 , however, could not be removed in a similar manner from the carboxy function. Trimer 47 served as precursor for the preparation of the trimer 55 with a terminal 3′-O-(5-carboxypentyl)adenosine moiety. The metabolically stable 3′-O-alkyl-(2′--5′)A derivatives were tested regarding inhibition of HIV-1 syncytia formation and HIV-1 RT activity. Only the conjugate 59 showed significant effects, whereas the trimers 53--55 and the conjugates 60 and 61 were less potent inhibitors, even at 100-fold larger concentrations.