Nucleotides,Part LXVIII,Acetals as New 2′‐O‐Protecting Functions for the Synthesis of Oligoribonucleotides: Synthesis of Monomeric Building Units and Oligoribonucleotides

For the efficient synthesis of oligoribonucleotides by the 5′‐O‐(4,4′‐dimethoxytrityl) phosphoramidite approach, the 2′‐O‐[1‐(benzyloxy)ethyl]acetals 56 – 67 were investigated. Studies with the 2′‐O‐[1‐(benzyloxy)ethyl]‐5′‐O‐(dimethoxytrityl)ribonucleoside 3′‐phosphoramidites 56 – 59 gave, however, only reasonable results. The oligoribonucleotides obtained showed some impurities since the acid stabilities of the acetal and dimethoxytrityl functions are too close to guarantee a high selectivity. A combination of new acid‐labile protected 2′‐O‐protecting groups with the 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl/[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl (npe/npeoc) strategy for base protection was more successful. The synthesis and physical properties of the monomeric building units and their intermediates 8 – 67 and the conditions for the automated generation of homo‐ and mixed oligoribonucleotides is described. The new 2′‐acetal protecting group could be cleaved off in a two step procedure and was designed for levelling their stability with regard to the attached nucleobase as well. Therefore, we used the 1‐{{3‐fluoro‐4‐{{[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl}oxy}benzyl}oxy}ethyl (fnebe) moiety for the protection of 2′‐OH of uridine, and for that of 2′‐OH of A, C, and G, the 1‐{{4‐{{[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl}oxy}benzyl}oxy}ethyl (nebe) residue. After selective deprotection by β‐elimination induced by a strong organic base like DBU, the remaining activated acetal was hydrolyzed under very mild acidic protic conditions, which reduced 2′‐3′ isomerization and chain cleavage. Also storage, handling, and purification of the chemically and enzymatically sensitive oligomers was simplified by this approach.     

Nucleosides,Part LXIV,Base‐Labile Protecting Groups for the Oligoribonucleotide Synthesis

New labile protecting groups for the anticipated synthesis of oligoribonucleotides were developed and introduced via their carbonochloridates 8 – 11 at the 5′‐O position of thymidine ( 15 ) to form 16 , 18 , 21 , and 24 in good yields (Schemes 2 and 3). Similarly, the 5′‐O‐diphenylphosphinoyl(dpp)‐protected thymidine derivative 27 was synthesized with diphenylphosphinoyl chloride 14 as the reactive reagent. With the help of the model compounds 16 , 18 , 21 , 24 , and 27 , the deprotection rates of these functions towards base treatment were recorded to evaluate their usefulness as temporary protecting groups in RNA assembly (Table). Finally, the relative stability of the 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl (npeoc) protecting group towards bases confirmed its use as a permanent blocking group in our npe/npeoc strategy.     

Nucleotides. Part LXXIX

Two series of new ribonucleoside 3′‐phosphoramidites (see 36 – 42 ) carrying the photolabile [2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)propoxy]carbonyl group at the 5′‐O‐position were synthesized and characterized as monomeric building blocks for photolithographic syntheses of RNA chips. Base protection was achieved in the well‐known manner by the 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and the [2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl (npeoc) group. The carbohydrate moiety carried in addition the 2′‐O‐(tetrahydro‐4‐methoxy‐2H‐pyran‐4‐yl) group for blocking the 2′‐OH function.     

Synthesis of the Anticodon Hairpin tRNAfMet Containing N‐{[9‐(β‐D‐Ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purin‐6‐yl]carbamoyl}‐L‐threonine (=N6‐{{[(1S,2R)‐1‐Carboxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl]amino}carbonyl}adenosine,t6A)

As part of our studies on the structure of yeast ^tRNA_f^Met, we investigated the incorporation of N‐{[9‐(β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl)‐9H‐purin‐6‐yl]carbamoyl}‐L ‐threonine (t⁶A) in the loop of a RNA 17‐mer hairpin. The carboxylic function of the L ‐threonine moiety of t⁶A was protected with a 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl group, and a (tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl group was used for the protection of its secondary OH group. The 2′‐OH function of the standard ribonucleotide building blocks was protected with a [(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]methyl group. Removal of the base‐labile protecting groups of the final RNA with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) and then with MeNH₂ was done under carefully controlled conditions to prevent hydrolysis of the carbamate function, leading to loss of the L ‐threonine moiety.     

Oligonucleotides Containing 7‐Deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine: Synthesis,Base Protection,and Base‐Pair Stability

Oligonucleotides incorporating 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 3 ) and 2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 1 ) were prepared by solid‐phase synthesis using the phosphoramidites 6 – 9 and 16 which were protected with allyl, diphenylcarbamoyl, or 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl groups. Among the various groups, only the 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl group was applicable to 7‐deazaxanthine protection being removed with 1,8‐diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec‐7‐ene (DBU) by β‐elimination, while the deprotection of the allyl residue with Pd⁰ catalyst or the diphenylcarbamoyl group with ammonia failed. Contrarily, the allyl group was found to be an excellent protecting group for 2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 1 ). The base pairing of nucleoside 3 with the four canonical DNA constituents as well as with 3‐bromo‐1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐erythro‐pentofuranosyl)‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐d]pyrimidine‐4,6‐diamine ( 4 ) within the 12‐mer duplexes was studied, showing that 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 3 ) has the same universal base‐pairing properties as 2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 1 ). Contrary to the latter, it is extremely stable at the N‐glycosylic bond, while compound 1 is easily hydrolyzed under slightly acidic conditions. Due to the pK_a values 5.7 ( 1 ) and 6.7 ( 3 ), both compounds form monoanions under neutral conditions (95% for 1 ; 65% for 3 ). Although both compounds form monoanions at pH 7.0, pH‐dependent T_m measurements showed that the base‐pair stability of 7‐deaza‐2′‐deoxyxanthosine ( 3 ) with dT is pH‐independent. This indicates that the 2‐oxo group is not involved in base‐pair formation.     

Novel Fluoride‐Labile Nucleobase‐Protecting Groups for the Synthesis of 3′(2′)‐O‐Aminoacylated RNA Sequences

With the aim to develop a general approach to a total synthesis of aminoacylated t‐RNAs and analogues, we describe the synthesis of stabilized, aminoacylated RNA fragments, which, upon ligation, could lead to aminoacylated t‐RNA structures. Novel RNA phosphoramidites with fluoride‐labile 2′‐O‐[(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]methyl (=tom) sugar‐protecting and N‐{{2‐[(triisopropylsilyl)oxy]benzyl}oxy}carbonyl (=tboc) base‐protecting groups were prepared (Schemes 4 and 5), as well as a solid support containing an immobilized N⁶‐tboc‐protected adenosine with an orthogonal (photolabile) 2′‐O‐[(S)‐1‐(2‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]methyl (=(S)‐npeom) group (Scheme 6). From these building blocks, a hexameric oligoribonucleotide was prepared by automated synthesis under standard conditions (Scheme 7). After the detachment from the solid support, the resulting fully protected sequence 34 was aminoacylated with L ‐phenylalanine derivatives carrying photolabile N‐protecting groups (→ 42 and 43 ; Scheme 9). Upon removal of the fluoride‐labile sugar‐ and nucleobase‐protecting groups, the still stabilized, partially with the photolabile group protected precursors 44 and 45 , respectively, of an aminoacylated RNA sequence were obtained (Scheme 9 and Fig. 3). Photolysis of 45 under mild conditions resulted in the efficient formation of the 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated RNA sequence 46 (Fig. 4). Additionally, we carried out model investigations concerning the stability of ester bonds of aminoacylated ribonucleotide derivatives under acidic conditions (Table) and established conditions for the purification and handling of 3′(2′)‐O‐aminoacylated RNA sequences and their stabilized precursors.     

Nucleotides,Part LXVII,The 2‐Cyanoethyl and (2‐Cyanoethoxy)carbonyl Group for Base Protection in Nucleoside and Nucleotide Chemistry

The amino functions of the common 2′‐deoxyribo‐ and ribonucleosides were blocked by the (2‐cyanoethoxy)carbonyl group on treatment with 2‐cyanoethyl carbonochloridate ( 5 ) or 1‐[(2‐cyanoethoxy)carbonyl]‐3‐methyl‐1H‐imidazolium chloride ( 6 ) leading to 7 , 18 , 8 , 19 , 9 , and 20 . In 2′‐deoxyguanosine, the amide group was additionally blocked at the O⁶ position by the 2‐cyanoethyl (→ 27 ) and 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl group (→ 31 , 32 ). Comparative kinetic studies regarding the cleavage of the ce/ceoc and npe/npeoc group by β‐elimination revealed valuable information about the ease and sequential deprotection of the various blocking groups at different sites of the nucleobases. Besides the 5′‐O‐(dimethoxytrityl)‐protected 3′‐(2‐cyanoethyl diisopropylphosphoramidites) 38 and 39 of N⁴‐[(2‐cyanoethoxy)carbonyl]‐2′‐deoxycytidine and N⁶‐[(2‐cyanoethoxy)carbonyl]‐2′‐deoxyadenosine, respectively, the N²‐[(2‐cyanoethoxy)carbonyl]‐2′‐deoxy‐O⁶‐[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl]guanosine analog 40 is recommended as building block for oligo‐2′‐deoxyribonucleotide synthesis.     

Nucleotides,Part LXIX,Synthesis of Phosphoramidite Building Blocks of Isoxanthopterin N8‐(2′‐Deoxy‐β‐D‐ribonucleosides): New Fluorescence Markers for Oligonucleotide Synthesis

The chemical synthesis of isoxanthopterin and 6‐phenylisoxanthopterin N⁸‐(2′‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐ribofuranosyl nucleosides) is described as well as their conversion into suitably protected 3′‐phosphoramidite building blocks to be used as marker molecules for DNA synthesis. Applying the npe/npeoc (=2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl/[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl) strategy, we used the new building blocks in the preparation of oligonucleotides by an automated solid‐support approach. The hybridization properties of a series of labelled oligomers were studied by UV‐melting techniques. It was found that the newly synthesized markers only slightly interfered with the abilities of the labelled oligomers to form stable duplexes with complementary oligonucleotides.     

Nucleotides,Part LXV,Synthesis of 2′‐Deoxyribonucleoside 5′‐Phosphoramidites: New Building Blocks for the Inverse (5′‐3′)‐Oligonucleotide Approach

The syntheses of the 3′‐O‐(4,4′‐dimethoxytrityl)‐protected 5′‐phosphoramidites 25 – 28 and 5′‐(hydrogen succinates) 29 – 32 , which can be used as monomeric building blocks for the inverse (5′‐3′)‐oligodeoxyribonucleotide synthesis are described (Scheme). These activated nucleosides and nucleotides were obtained by two slightly different four‐step syntheses starting with the base‐protected nucleosides 13 – 20 . For the protection of the aglycon residues, the well‐established 2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl (npe) and [2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl (npeoc) groups were used. The assembly of the oligonucleotides required a slightly increased coupling time of 3 min in application of the common protocol (see Table 1). The use of pyridinium hydrochloride as an activator (instead of 1H‐tetrazole) resulted in an extremely shorter activation time of 30 seconds. We established the efficiency of this inverse strategy by the synthesis of the oligonucleotide 3′‐conjugates 33 and 34 which carry lipophilic caps derived from cholesterol and vitamin E, respectively, as well as by the formation of (3′‐3′)‐ and (5′‐5′)‐internucleotide linkages (see Table 2).     

Studies on isocyanides and related compounds. Synthesis of furan derivatives and their transformation into indole derivatives

The intramolecular Knoevenagel condensation of N‐cyclohexyl 3‐aryl‐2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)acetoxy‐3‐oxopropionamides 4 obtained from 2‐nitrophenylacetic acid (1), arylglyoxals 2 and cyclohexyl isocyanide (3) afforded N‐cyclohexyl 3‐aryl‐2,5‐dihydro‐2‐(2‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐oxofuran‐2‐carboxamides 6 which underwent reductive cleavage to N‐cyclohexyl (Z)‐3‐aryl‐2‐hydroxy‐3‐(2,3‐dihydro‐2‐oxoindol‐3‐ylidene)propionamides 8 probably via the labile intermediates 7.     

Nucleotides. Part XLIII. Solid-phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides using the 2-dansylethoxycarbonyl (  2-{[5-(dimethylamino)naphthalen-1-yl]sulfonyl}ethoxycarbonyl; dnseoc) group for 5′-hydroxy protection

A new efficient method for solid-phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides via the phosphoramidite approach is described. The combination of the base-labile 2-dansylethoxycarbonyl (Dnseoc) group for 5′-OH protection with the acid-labile tetrahydro-4-methoxy-2H-pyran-4-yl (Thmp) group as 2′-OH blocking group is orthogonal regarding cleavage reactions and fulfills the requirements of an automated synthesis in an excellent manner if the phosphoramidite function carries the N,N-diethyl-O-[2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl] substitution.     

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).     

Nucleotides. Part LXXII

The synthesis of various N‐methylated nucleosides (m⁶A, m³C, m⁴C, m³U) is described. These minor nucleosides can be obtained by simple methylation with diazomethane of [2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethoxy]carbonyl(npeoc)‐protected nucleosides. These methylated compounds are easily further derivatized to fit into the scheme of the [2‐(dansyl)ethoxy]carbonyl (dnseoc) approach for RNA synthesis (dansyl=[5‐(dimethylamino)naphthalen‐1‐yl]sulfonyl). Various oligoribonucleotides containing N⁶‐methyladenosine were synthesized, underlining the usefulness of the dnseoc approach, especially for the synthesis of natural tRNA‐derived oligoribonucleotide sequences.     

Zn2+ Complexes of 3,5‐Bis[(1,5,9‐triazacyclododecan‐3‐yloxy)methyl]phenyl Conjugates of Oligonucleotides as Artificial RNases: The Effect of Oligonucleotide Conjugation on Uridine Selectivity of the Cleaving Agent

2‐(3,5‐Bis{[1,5,9‐tris(trifluoroacetyl)‐1,5,9‐triazacyclododecan‐3‐yloxy]methyl}phenoxy)ethanol was synthesized and converted to a O‐(2‐cyanoethyl)‐N,N‐diisopropylphosphoramidite building block, 12 . 2′‐O‐Methyl oligoribonucleotides incorporating a 2‐[(2S,4S,5R)‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran‐2‐yl)ethyl 4‐oxopentanoate or a 2‐{2‐[2‐({[(2R,4S,5R)‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐(hydroxymethyl)tetrahydrofuran‐2‐yl]acetyl}amino)ethoxy]ethoxy}ethyl 4‐oxopentanoate non‐nucleosidic unit close to the 3′‐terminus were assembled on a solid support, the 4‐oxopentanoyl protecting groups were removed by treatment with hydrazinium acetate on‐support, and 12 was coupled to the exposed OH function. The deprotected conjugates were purified by HPLC, and their ability to cleave a complementary RNA containing either uridine or some other nucleoside at the potential cleaving site was compared. Somewhat unexpectedly, conjugation to an oligonucleotide did not enhance the catalytic activity of the Zn²⁺? bis(azacrown) complex and virtually abolished its selectivity towards the uridine sites.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of the dinuclear copper(II) Schiff base complex μ‐hydroxido‐μ‐chlorido‐bis{[bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine]chloridocopper(II)} dichloromethane sesquisolvate

Transition metal complexes of Schiff base ligands have been shown to have particular application in catalysis and magnetism. The chemistry of copper complexes is of interest owing to their importance in biological and industrial processes. The reaction of copper(I) chloride with the bidentate Schiff base N,N′‐bis(trans‐2‐nitrocinnamaldehyde)ethylenediamine {Nca₂en, systematic name: (1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]} in a 1:1 molar ratio in dichloromethane without exclusion of air or moisture resulted in the formation of the title complex μ‐chlorido‐μ‐hydroxido‐bis(chlorido{(1E,1′E,2E,2′E)‐N,N′‐(ethane‐1,2‐diyl)bis[3‐(2‐nitrophenyl)prop‐2‐en‐1‐imine]‐κ²N,N′}copper(II)) dichloromethane sesquisolvate, [Cu₂Cl₃(OH)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O₄)₂]·1.5CH₂Cl₂. The dinuclear complex has a folded four‐membered ring in an unsymmetrical Cu₂OCl₃ core in which the approximate trigonal bipyramidal coordination displays different angular distortions in the equatorial planes of the two Cu^II atoms; the chloride bridge is asymmetric, but the hydroxide bridge is symmetric. The chelate rings of the two Nca₂en ligands have different conformations, leading to a more marked bowing of one of the ligands compared with the other. This is the first reported dinuclear complex, and the first five‐coordinate complex, of the Nca₂en Schiff base ligand. Molecules of the dimer are associated in pairs by ring‐stacking interactions supported by C—H…Cl interactions with solvent molecules; a further ring‐stacking interaction exists between the two Schiff base ligands of each molecule.     

New Protected Protecting Groups for the 5′‐Hydroxy Group of Deoxynucleosides by Use of 2‐(Hydroxymethyl)‐ and 2‐[(Methylamino)methyl]benzoyl Skeletons and Oxidatively Cleavable Tritylthio and (4‐Methoxytrityl)thio Groups

The new protecting groups 1a , b and 2a , b were developed for the 5′‐OH group of deoxynucleosides by utilizing the unique characters of the sulfenate and sulfenamide linkage. These new protecting groups have a 2‐(hydroxymethyl)benzoyl or 2‐[(methylamino)methyl]benzoyl skeleton whose hydroxy O‐atom or amino N‐atom was blocked with a tritylthio‐type substituent. They are removable by intramolecular cyclization following the oxidative hydrolysis of the tritylthio‐type substituents under mildly oxidative conditions (Schemes 3 and 6). Among them, 2‐{{[(4‐methoxytrityl)sulfenyl]oxy}methyl}benzoyl (MOB; 2b ) was found to be the most preferable for protection of the 5′‐OH function of deoxynucleosides. MOB can be introduced at the 5′‐OH groups of various deoxynucleosides without the protection of the 3′‐OH functions (Scheme 5). The applicability of the MOB group to a new oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis protocol without acid treatment was demonstrated by the solid‐phase synthesis of a tetrathymidylate (Scheme 8).     

Individual Isomers of Dinucleoside Boranophosphates as Synthons for Incorporation into Oligonucleotides: Synthesis and Configurational Assignment

Individual isomers of the protected boranophosphates 5a and 5b , i.e., the N⁶‐benzyl‐2′‐deoxy‐5′‐O‐(4,4′‐dimethoxytrityl)adenosin‐3′‐yl 2′‐deoxy‐4‐O‐(4‐nitrophenyl)uridin‐5′‐yl boranophosphates, were synthesized via stereospecific silylation and boronation of their H‐phosphonate precursors. 2D‐NMR Spectroscopic studies yielded an initial assignment of the isomer configuration, which was further confirmed unambiguously by a parallel chemical synthesis. Deprotection of the `dimers' 5a and 5b yielded the individual [P(R)]‐ and [P(S)]‐isomers 7a and 7b , respectively, i.e., the 2′‐deoxyadenosin‐3′‐yl 2′‐deoxycytidin‐5′‐yl boranophosphates. Their substrate properties toward phosphodiesterase I were identical to those of the previously characterized isomers of dithymidine boranophosphate. The protected `dimers' 5a and 5b can be used as synthons to incorporate the boranophosphate linkage with a defined configuration to selected positions of an oligonucleotide chain.     

Synthesis of oligoribonucleotides containing isoguanosine

Oligoribonucleotides containing isoguanosine ( ? 1,2-dihydro-2-oxoadenosine; isoG; 1 ) were prepared. The building block 2 was synthesized using the (dimethylamino)methylidene residue as NH₂ protecting group. The monomethoxytrityl as well as dimethoxytrityl group were introduced at OH–C(5′) (→ 5 and 6 ). Silylation of 5 with triisopropylsilyl chloride formed the 2′-O-blocked derivative 7 almost exclusively. Reaction with PCl₃/1,2,4-1H-triazole furnished the phosphonate 2 which was used in solid-phase synthesis of the oligoribonucleotides 10 and 11 . RNAse T₁ hydrolyzed U-A-G-U-U-isoG-U-U-A-G ( 10 ) at the 3′-site of G but not of isoG. The self-complementary oligomer (A-U-isoG-U)₃ ( 11 ) formed a duplex which was less stable than that of (A-U)₆.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Oligonucleotides Containing 2′‐Deoxyxanthosine Using Phosphoramidite Chemistry

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing 2′‐deoxyxanthosine (X_d) were synthesized in good yield from a O²,O⁶‐bis[2‐(4‐nitrophenyl)ethyl](NPE)‐protected phosphoramidite of X_d. Attempts to synthesize a O⁶‐monoNPE‐protected phosphoramidite resulted in formation of a major by‐product. The NPE protecting groups were removed by treatment with oximate ion after other protecting groups were removed with aqueous NH₄OH solution. The composition of the synthetic oligonucleotides was verified by enzymatic degradation and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. The efficacy of this procedure allowed isolation of oligodeoxynucleotides containing multiple X_d residues.     

Synthesis and characterization of chelate polymers containing etheric diphenyl ring in the backbone: thermal,optical, electrochemical,and morphological properties

A novel Schiff base, 4‐bromo‐2‐[(2‐[(5‐bromo‐2‐hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino‐5‐nitrophenyl)iminomethyl]phenol (M1) was synthesized from the reaction of 5‐brom‐salicylaldehyde with 4‐nitro‐o‐phenylenediamine. Schiff base–metal complex was synthesized from the reaction of 4‐bromo‐2‐[(2‐[(5‐bromo‐2‐ hydroxyphenyl)methylene]amino‐5‐nitrophenyl)iminomethyl]phenol (M1) with copper (II) acetate monohydrate [(CH₃COO)₂ Cu · H₂O] salt. Poly‐ (M1‐Cu‐TDP) was synthesized from the reaction of M1‐Cu with 4,4′‐dithiodiphenol (TDP). Poly(M1‐Cu‐PDP) was synthesized from the reaction of M1‐Cu with 4,4′‐propane‐2,2‐diyldiphenol (PDP). Poly(M1‐Cu‐HDP) was synthesized from the reaction of M1‐Cu with 4,4′‐(1,1,1,3,3,3‐hexafluoropropane‐2,2‐di‐yl)diphenol (HDP). The structures of the synthesized monomer and chelate polymers were confirmed by FT‐IR, UV–Vis, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and elemental analysis. The characterization was made by TGA‐DTA, DSC, size exclusion chromatography, cyclic voltammetry, and solubility tests. Also, surface morphologies of chelate polymers were investigated by scanning electron microscope. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.