Oligonucleotide Analogues with a Nucleobase‐Including Backbone,Part 5, 2′‐Deoxy‐8‐(hydroxymethyl)adenosine‐ and 2′‐Deoxy‐6‐(hydroxymethyl)uridine‐Derived Phosphoramidites: Synthesis and Incorporation into 14‐Mer DNA Strands

The pairing propensity of new DNA analogues with a phosphinato group between O−C(3′) and a newly introduced OCH₂ group at C(8) and C(6) of 2′‐deoxyadenosine and 2′‐deoxyuridine, respectively, was evaluated by force‐field calculations and Maruzen model studies. These studies suggest that these analogues may form autonomous pairing systems, and that the incorporation of single modified units into DNA 14mers is compatible with duplex formation. To evaluate the incorporation, we prepared the required phosphoramidites 3 and 4 from 2′‐deoxyadenosine and 2′‐deoxyuridine, respectively. The phosphoramidite 5 was similarly prepared to estimate the influence of a CH₂OH group at C(8) on the duplex stability. The modified 14‐mers 6 – 9 were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis. Pairing studies show a decrease of the melting temperature by 2.5° for the duplex 13 ⋅ 9 , and of 6 – 8° for the duplexes 10 ⋅ 6 , 11 ⋅ 6 , 13 ⋅ 7 , and 14 ⋅ 8 , as compared to the unmodified duplexes.     

Anomeric 5-Aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines in Silver-Ion-Mediated Homo and Hybrid Base Pairs: Impact of Mismatch Structure,Helical Environment,and Nucleobase Substituents on DNA Stability

Nucleoside configuration (α-d vs. β-d ), nucleobase substituents, and the helical DNA environment of silver-mediated 5-aza-7-deazaguanine-cytosine base pairs have a strong impact on DNA stability. This has been demonstrated by investigations on oligonucleotide duplexes with silver-mediated base pairs of α-d and β-d anomeric 5-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines and anomeric 2′-deoxycytidines incorporated in 12-mer duplexes. To this end, a new synthetic protocol has been developed to access the pure anomers of 5-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine by glycosylation of either the protected nucleobase or its salt followed by separation of the glycosylation products by crystallization and chromatography. Thermal stability measurements were performed on duplexes with α-d /α-d and β-d /β-d homo base pairs or α-d /β-d and β-d /α-d hybrid pairs within two sequence environments, positions 6 or 7, of oligonucleotide duplexes. The respective T_m stability increases observed after silver ion addition differ significantly. Homo base pairs with β-d /β-d or α-d /α-d nucleoside combinations are more stable than α-d /β-d hybrid base pairs. The positional switch of silver-ion-mediated base pairs has a significant impact on stability. Nucleobase substituents introduced at the 5-position of the dC site of silver-mediated base pairs affect base pair stability to a minor extent. Our investigation might lead to applications in the construction of bioinspired nanodevices, in DNA diagnostics, or metal-DNA hybrid materials.     

2′-Deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosides of N6-Methylated 7-Deazaadenine and 8-Aza-7-deazaadenine: Solid-phase synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides and properties of self-complementary duplexes

The syntheses of 7-deaza-N⁶-methyladenine N⁹-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranoside) ( 2 ) as well as of 8-aza-7-deaza-N⁶-methyladenine N⁸? and N⁹?(2′-deoxyribofuranosides) ( 3 and 4 , resp.) are described. A 4,4′-dimeth-oxylritylation followed by phosphitylation yielded the methyl phosphoramidites 12–14 . They were employed together with the phosphoramidite of 2′-deoxy-N⁶v-methyladenosine ( 15 ) in automated solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Alternating or palindromic oligonucleotides derived from d(A-T)₆ or d(A-T-G-C-A-G-A*-T-C-T-G-C-A) but containing one methylated pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine or pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine moiety in place of a N⁶-methylaminopurine (A*) were synthesized. Melting experiments showed that duplex destabilization induced by a N⁶-Me group of 2′-deoxy-N⁶-methyladenosine is reversed by incorporation of 8-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxy-N⁶-meihyladenosine, whereas 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-N⁶-methyladenostne decreased the T_m value further. Regiospecific phosphodiester hydrolysis of d(A-T-G-C-A-G-m⁶A-T-C-T-G1-C-A) by the endodeoxyribonuclease Dpn I, yielding d(A-T-G-C-A-G-m⁶A) and d(pT-C-T-G-C-A), was prevented when the residue c⁷m⁶A_d ( 2 ), c⁷m⁶z⁸A_d ( 3 ), or c⁷m⁶z⁸A_d′ ( 4 ) replaced m⁶A_d ( 1 ) indicating that N(7) of N⁶-methyladenine is a proton-acceptor site for the endodeoxyribonuclease.     

8-Aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine: Phosphoramidite synthesis and properties of octanucleotides

Base-modified octanucleotides derived from d(G1–G2–A–A–T–T–C–C–) ( 11 ) but containing 8-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine ( 2 ) instead of 2′-deoxyguanosine ( 1 ) have been prepared by solid-phase synthesis employing P(III) chemistry. Isobutyrylation of 2 , followed by 4, 4′-dimethoxytritylation and subsequent phosphitylation yielded the methyl or the cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 6a or 6b , respectively. They were used as building blocks in automated DNA synthesis. The resulting octanucleotides 12–14 containing 2 showed increased T_m values compared to the parent oligomer 11 . The oligomers 11 – 14 were employed as sequence-specific probes in endo-deoxyribonuclease Eco RI oligonucleotide recognition. Whereas displacement of dG-2 (enzymic cleavage site of 11 ) abolished phosphodiester hydrolysis, replacement of dG-1 enhanced the cleavage rate compared to 11 .     

The 2-Amino Group of 8-Aza-7-deaza-7-bromopurine-2,6-diamine and Purine-2,6-diamine as Stabilizer for the Adenine–Thymine Base Pair in Heterochiral DNA with Strands in Anomeric Configuration

Stabilization of DNA is beneficial for many applications in the fields of DNA therapeutics, diagnostics, and materials science. Now, this phenomenon is studied on heterochiral DNA, an autonomous DNA recognition system with complementary strands in α-D and β-D configuration showing parallel strand orientation. The 12-mer heterochiral duplexes were constructed from anomeric (α/β-D) oligonucleotide single-strands. Purine-2,6-diamine and 8-aza-7-deaza-7-bromopurine-2,6-diamine 2′-deoxyribonucleosides having the capability to form tridentate base pairs with dT were used to strengthen the stability of the dA–dT base pair. T_m data and thermodynamic values obtained from UV melting profiles indicated that the 8-aza-7-deaza 2′-deoxyribonucleoside decorated with a bromo substituent is so far the most efficient stabilizer for heterochiral DNA. Compared with that, the stabilizing effect of the purine-2,6-diamine 2′-deoxyribonucleoside is low. Global changes of helix structures were identified by circular dichroism (CD) spectra during melting.     

8-Aza-7-deazaadenine N8- and N8-(β-D-2′-Deoxyribofuranosides): Building blocks for automated DNA synthesis and properties of oligodeoxyribonucleotides

Oligonucleotides with alternating 8-aza-7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine (= c⁷z⁸A_d2) and dT residues (see 11, 14 and 16 ) or 4-aminopyrazolo [3,4-d] pyrimidine N²-(β-D -2′-deoxyribofuranoside) (= c⁷z⁸A′_d¹); ( 3 ) and dT residues (see 12 ) have been prepared by solid-phase synthesis using P(III) chemistry, Additionally, palindromic oligomers derived from d(C-T-G-G-A-T-C-C-A-G) but containing 2 or 3 instead of dA (see 18 – 22 ) have been synthesized. Benzoylation of 2 or 3 , followed by 4,4′-dimethoxytritylation and subsequent phosphitylation yielded the methyl or the cyanoethyl phosphoramidites 8a,b and 9 . They were employed in automated. DNA synthesis. Alternating oligomers containing 2 or 3 showed increase dT_m values compared to those with dA, in particular 12 with an unusual N²-glycosylic bond. The palindromic oligomers 18 - 22 containing 2 or 3 instead of dA outside of the enzymic recognition side reduced the hydrolysis rate, replacement within d(G-A-T-C) abolished phosphodiester hydrolysis.     

Duplex Stabilization of DNA: Oligonucleotides containing 7-substituted 7-deazaadenines

The oligonucleotide building blocks 4b–d derived from 7-bromo-, 7-chloro-, and 7-methyl-substituted 7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosines 3b–d were prepared. They were employed in the solid-phase synthesis of the oligonucleotides 7–25 . The dA residues of the homomer d(A₁₂), the alternating d[(A-T)₆], and the palindromic d(G-T-A-G-A-A-T-T-C-T-A-C) were replaced by 3b–d as well as by the parent 7-deaza-2′-deoxyadenosine ( 3a ). The melting profiles and CD spectra of oligonucleotide duplexes, showing this major groove modification, were measured, and the T_m values as well as the thermodynamic data were determined. It was found that small substituents such as Br, Cl, or Me introduced in the 7-position of a 7-deazaadenine residue increase the duplex stability compared to oligonucleotides containing adenine.     

Duplex Stability of 7-Deazapurine DNA: Oligonucleotides containing 7-bromo- or 7-iodo-7-deazaguanine

The oligonucleotide building blocks, the phosphonates 1a, b and the phosphoramidites 2a, b derived from 7-iodo- and 7-bromo-7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines 3a, b were prepared. They were employed in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis of the alternating octamers d(Br⁷c⁷G-C)₄ ( 8 ) and d(I⁷c⁷G-C)₄ ( 9 ) as well as the homo-oligonucleotides d[(Br⁷c⁷G)₅-G] ( 11 ) and d[(I⁷c⁷G)₅-G] ( 12 ). The melting profiles and CD spectra of oligonucleotide duplexes were measured. The T_m values as well as the thermodynamic data were determined and correlated to the major-groove modification of this DNA. The self-complementary octamers 8 and 9 form more stable duplexes compared to the parent oligomer d(G-C)₄. The heteroduplex of d[(I⁷c⁷G)₅-G] ( 12 ) with d(C₆) is slightly destabilized (ΔT_m = ?12°) over that of d[(c⁷G)₅-G] with d(C₆). However, the complex of 12 with poly(C) is more stable than that of d[(c⁷G₅-G)] with poly(C).     

7-Deazaguanine DNA: Oligonucleotides with hydrophobic or cationic side chains

The phosphoramidites 6b and 9 as well as the phosphonate 6a derived from 7-(hex-1-ynyl)- and 7-[5-(trifluoroacetamido)pent-1-ynyl]-substituted 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosines 1 and 10 , respectively, were prepared (Scheme 1). They were employed in solid-phase oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis of the alternating octamers d(hxy⁷c⁷G-C)₄ ( 12 ), d(C-hxy⁷c⁷G)₄ ( 13 ), and d(npey ⁷c⁷G-C)₄ ( 15 ) as well as of other oligonucleotides (see 22 – 25 ; Table 2; hxy = hex-1-ynyl, npey = 5-aminopent-1-ynyl). The T_m values and the thermodynamic data of duplex formation were determined and correlated with the major-groove modification of the DNA fragments. A hexynyl side chain introduced into the 7-position of a 7-deazaguanine residue (see 1 ) was found to fit into the major groove without any protrusion. The incorporation of the (5-aminopent-1-ynyl)-modified 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine 2 into single-stranded oligomers of the type 24 and 25 did not lead to change in duplex stability compared to the parent oligonucleotides. The self-complementary oligomer 15 with alternating npey⁷c⁷G_d ( 2 ) and dC units did not lead to a cooperative melting, either due to orientational disorder or interaction of the 5-aminopent-1-ynyl moiety with a base or with phosphate residues nearby or on the opposite strand.     

Oligonucleotide duplexes containing N8-glycosylated 8-aza-7-deazaguanine and self-assembly of 8-aza-7-deazapurines on the nucleoside and the oligomeric level

The 8-aza-7-deazaguanine N8-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranoside) (1) was synthesized, converted into the phosphoramidite 4 and incorporated into oligonucleotides. Nucleoside 1 forms stable base pairs with 2'-deoxy-5-methylisocytidine in DNA with antiparallel chain orientation (aps) and with 2'-deoxycytidine in duplexes with parallel chains (ps). According to the CD spectra self-complementary oligonucleotides d(1-m5isoC)3 and d(1-C), form autonomous DNA-structures. Neither the nucleoside 1 nor the regularly linked 8-aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine form G-like tetrads while the regularly linked 8-aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyisoguanosine gives higher molecular assemblies which are destroyed by bulky 7-bromo substituents. This was verified on monomeric nucleosides by ESI-MS spectrometry and on oligonucleotides by HPLC analysis.     

Base Pairing of 8‐Aza‐7‐deazapurine‐2,6‐diamine Linked via the N(8)‐Position to the DNA Backbone: Universal Base‐Pairing Properties and Formation of Highly Stable Duplexes when Alternating with dT

The unusually N⁸‐glycosylated pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine‐4,6‐diamine 2′‐deoxyribonucleoside ( 3 ) was synthesized and converted to the phosphoramidite 11 . Oligonucleotides were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis, and the base pairing of compound 3 was studied. In non‐self‐complementary duplexes containing compound 3 located opposite to the four canonical DNA constituents, strong base pairs are formed that show ambiguous pairing properties. The self‐complementary duplex d( 3 ‐T)₆ ( 34 ⋅ 34 ) is significantly more stable than d(A‐T)₆.     

Oligonucleotides Containing 7-Deazaadenines: The Influence of the 7-Substituent Chain Length and Charge on the Duplex Stability

Oligonucleotides carrying alkynyl and aminoalkynyl chains at the position 7 of 7-deazaadenine are synthesized, and the chain lengths as well as the bulkiness of the substituents are varied. The corresponding nucleosides 1a – f are prepared from 7-deaza-2′-deoxy-7-iodoadenosine and the particular alkynes by the Pd⁰-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction. The nucleosides are converted to the phosphoramidites 2a – f , which are used in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. The stability of the duplexes is determined by the T_m values and the thermodynamic data. Compared to adenine or the unsubstituted 7-deazaadenine, the incorporation of a 7-ethynyl chain in a 7-deazaadenine moiety increases the duplex stability significantly, while a dodecynyl residue or a bulky steroid moiety leads to a duplex destabilization. A 3-aminoprop-1-ynyl residue (see 1g ) or a 5-aminopent-1-ynyl residue (see 1h ), which are charged under neutral conditions, lead to zwitterionic DNA. A high density of charged residues as found in homomers impairs duplex formation, most probably by counter-ion condensation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine α- and β-D-ribonucleosides from anomerically pure D-ribofuranosyl chlorides: Solid-Liquid Phase-Transfer Glycosylation and 15N-NMR Spectra

Solid-liquid phase-transfer glycosylation (KOH, tris[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethye]amine ( = TDA-1), MeCN) of pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines such as 3a and 3b with an equimolar amount of 5-O-[(1,1 -dimethylethyl)dimethylsilyl]-2,3-O-(1-methylethylidene)-α-D -ribofuranosyl chloride (1) [6] gave the protected β-D -nucleosides 4a and 4b , respectively, stereoselectively (Scheme). The β-D -anomer 2 [6] yielded the corresponding α-D -nucleosides 5a and 5b with traces of the β-D -compounds. The 6-substituted 7-deazapurine nucleosides 6a , 7a , and 8 were converted into tubercidin (10) or its α-D -anomer (11) . Spin-lattice relaxation measurements of anomeric ribonucleosides revealed that T₁ values of H? C(8) in the α-D -series are significantly increased compared to H? C(8) in the β-D -series while the opposite is true for T₁ of H? C(1′). ¹⁵N-NMR data of 6-substituted 7-deazapurine D -ribofuranosides were assigned and compared with those of 2′-deoxy compounds. Furthermore, it was shown that 7-deaza-2′deoxyadenosine ( = 2′-deoxytubercidin; 12 ) is protonated at N(1), whereas the protonation site of 7-deaza-2′-deoxyguanosine ( 20 ) is N(3).     

Major‐Groove‐Halogenated DNA: The Effects of Bromo and Iodo Substituents Replacing H−C(7) of 8‐Aza‐7‐deazapurine‐2,6‐diamine or H−C(5) of Uracil Residues

Oligonucleotides containing halogenated `purine' and pyrimidine bases were synthesized. Bromo and iodo substituents were introduced at the 7‐position of 8‐aza‐7‐deazapurine‐2,6‐diamine (see 2b , c ) or at the 5‐position of uracil residues (see 3b , c ). Phosphoramidites were synthesized after protection of 2b with the isobutyryl residue and of 2c with the benzoyl group. Duplexes containing the residues 2b or 2c gave always higher T<sub>m</sub> values than those of the nonmodified counterparts containing 2′‐deoxyadenosine, the purine‐2,6‐diamine 2′‐deoxyribonucleoside ( 1 ), or 2a at the same positions. Six 2b residues replacing dA in the duplex 5′‐d(TAGGTCAATACT)‐3′ ( 11 )⋅5′‐d(AGTATTGACCTA)‐3′ ( 12 ) raised the T<sub>m</sub> value from 48 to 75° (4.5° per modification (Table 3)). Contrary to this, incorporation of the 5‐halogenated 2′‐deoxyuridines 3b or 3c into oligonucleotide duplexes showed very little influence on the thermal stability, regardless of which `purine' nucleoside was located opposite to them (Tables 4 and 5). The positive effects on the thermal stability of duplexes observed in DNA were also found in DNA⋅RNA hybrids or in DNA with parallel chain orientation (Tables 8 and 9, resp.).     

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.     

Dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine-Tethered Oligo-DNA: Synthesis and Thermal Stability of Their DNA⋅DNA and DNA⋅RNA Duplexes and DNA⋅DNA⋅DNA Triplexes

Dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (dppz) derivatives were conjugated to 9-mer and 18-mer DNA (ODN) at a site without nucleobase, either at the 5′- or 3′-end or at a internucleotide position, via linkers of 7, 12, or 18 atoms lengths. These dppz-linked ODNs were synthesized using novel backbone glycerol phosphoramidites: Glycerol, serving as artificial nucleoside without nucleobase, was modified to amines 10 , 23 , and 24 , which were suitable for the subsequent key reaction with dppz-carboxylic acid 3 (Schemes 2 and 3). The products of these reactions (see 5 – 7 ) were then transformed to the standard phosphoramidite derivatives (see 27 , 29 , and 30 ) or used for loading on a CPG support (see 28 , 31 , and 32 ). The dppz-modified ODNs were subsequently assembled in the usual manner using automated solid-phase DNA synthesis. The 9-mer ODN-dppz conjugates 35 – 43 were tested for their ability to form stable duplexes with target DNA or RNA strands (D11 ( 60 ) or R11 ( 61 )), while the 18-mer ODN-dppz conjugates 48 – 56 were tested for their ability to form stable triplexes with a DNA target duplex D24⋅D24 ( 62 ) (see Tables 1 and 2). The presence of the conjugated dppz derivative increases the stability of DNA⋅DNA and DNA⋅RNA duplexes, typically by a ΔT_m of 7.3 – 10.9° and 4.5 – 7.4°, respectively, when the dppz is tethered at the 5′- or 3′-terminal (Table 2). The dppz derivatives also stabilize triplexes when attached to the 5′- or 3′-end, with a ΔT_m varying from 3.8 – 11.1° (Table 3). The insertion of a dppz building block at the center of a 9-mer results in a considerably poorer stability of the corresponding DNA⋅DNA duplexes (ΔT_m=0.5 to 4.2°) and DNA⋅RNA duplexes (ΔT_m=−1.5 to 0.9°), while the replacement of one interior nucleotide by a dppz building unit in the corresponding 8-mer ODN does not reveal the formation of any duplex at all. Different types of modifications in the middle of the 18-mer ODN, in general, do not lead to any triplex formation, except when the dppz derivative is tethered to the ODN through a 12-atom-long linker (Entry 9 in Table 3).     

N 7-DNA: Base-Pairing Properties of N 7-(2′-Deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-Substituted Adenine,Hypoxanthine, and Guanine in Duplexes with Parallel Chain Orientation

Oligonucleotides containing N ⁷-(2′-deoxy-β-D -erythro-pentofuranosyl)adenine ( 1 ), -hypoxanthine ( 2 ), and -guanine ( 3 ) were synthesized on solid-phase using phosphonate and phosphoramidite chemistry. As part of the synthesis of compound 2 , the nucleobase-anion glycosylation of various 6-alkoxypurines with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-(4-toluoyl)-α-D -erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride ( 5 ) was investigated. The duplex stability of oligonucleotides containing N ⁷-glycosylated purines opposite to regular pyrimidines was determined, and thermodynamic data were calculated from melting profiles. Oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing N ⁷-glycosylated adenine⋅T_d or N ⁷-glycosylated guanine⋅C_d base pairs are more stable in the case of parallel strand orientation than in the case of antiparallel chains.     

The Base-Pairing Properties of 7-Deaza-2′-deoxyisoguanosine and 2′-Deoxyisoguanosine in Oligonucleotide Duplexes with Parallel and Antiparallel Chain Orientation

Oligonucleotides with parallel (ps) or antiparallel (aps) chain orientation containing 7-deaza-2′-deoxyisoguanosine ( 1 ) or 2′-deoxyisoguanosine ( 2 ) were prepared. The phosphoramidite and phosphonate building blocks 3 – 6 were synthesized and used in solid-phase synthesis. The diphenylcarbamoyl (dpc) residue was used for the 2-oxo group protection and the isobutyryl (iBu=ib) residue for the amino function. Hybridization experiments were performed with oligonucleotides containing 7-deazaisoguanine or isoguanine. Regarding 7-deazapurine-containing oligonucleotides, the 7-deazaisoguanine⋅cytosine base pair was the strongest in ps-duplexes, while that of 7-deazaisoguanine⋅5-methylisocytosine was the most stable one in aps-DNA. Ambiguous base pairing of 7-deazaisoguanine with cytosine, 5-methylisocytosine, thymine, and guanine was observed in the case of aps-duplexes, whereas in ps-duplexes, the ambiguity was extended to adenine. The 7-deazaisoguanine-containing duplexes showed almost identical base-pair stabilities as those containing isoguanine. According to this, various base-pair motifs are proposed. The 7-deaza-2′-deoxyisoguanosine was found to be an effective substitute of 2′-deoxyisoguanosine.     

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 ).     

Synthesis of 2′-Deoxyribofuranosides of 8-Aza-7-deazaguanine and Related Pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidines

The N(1)- and N(2)-(2′-deoxyribofuranosides) 1 and 2 , respectively, of 8-aza-7-deazaguanine were prepared via phase-transfer glycosylation in the presence or absence of Bu₄NHSO₄ as catalyst of 6-amino-4-methoxy-lH-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine ( 7c ) with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-(p-toluoyl)-α-D -erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride ( 10 ). On a similar route, but without catalyst and employing THF as organic phase, the 6-amino-4-chloronucleosides 11b and 12b were synthesized from 7a and converted into the N(1)-and N(2)-substituted 4-thioxo analogues 17a and 18a , respectively. The ratio of N(1)- to N(2)-glycosylation was 2:1 for 7c and 1:1 for 7a , viz. depending on the nucleobase structure. The rate of the H⁺-catalyzed N-glycosyl hydrolysis was strongly decreased for the N(2)-(β-D -2′-deoxyribofuranosides) as compared to the N(1)-compounds. However, the N(1)-nucleoside 1 , which is an isostere of 2′-deoxyguanosine, is sufficiently stable to be employed later in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis.