Functional monomers and polymers. CIV. Synthesis and properties of oligomer models of polyethyleneimine derivatives with spacer-separated nucleic acid bases

A series of polyethyleneimine derivatives and their oligomer models with pendant thymine or adenine bases separated by β-alanyl groups as spacers were prepared by an activated ester method. To elucidate the nature of intramolecular interaction of thymine and adenine bases ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric studies were undertaken for the series of compounds and the results were compared with those obtained for the corresponding oligomers without spacers. In the thymine derivatives, the nature of the intramolecular interaction resembled that of the corresponding compounds without β-alanyl units, although larger hypochromicities were found in the series with β-alanyl units. In the adenine derivatives, contrary to the corresponding thymine systems, UV hypochromicities of the compounds decreased by incorporation of the spacer group into side chains. It became evident that the intramolecular interaction of adenine bases was due to stacking neutral species, hydrogen bonding, and residual hypochromicity for the protonated species.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XCIV. Photochemical reactions on the synthetic polymers containing thymine bases in the presence of adenine derivatives

Photodimerization reactions of polyacrylate and polymethacrylate derivatives and the dimer model compound containing thymine bases were studied in the presence of adenine derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide; N,N-dimethylformamide; and dimethyl sulfoxide–ethylene glycol solutions. The photodimerization of thymine bases both in the polymers and in the dimer model compound was found to be quenched by the addition of adenine derivatives. Base-base interaction in the ground state was also studied by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy in the three solvents. The quenching of the photodimerizationof thymine bases in the presence of adenine derivatives was discussed in terms of the specific interaction between adenine and thymine bases both in ground and excited states.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CVIII. Photodimerization of pendant thymine bases in thymine containing poly-lysine derivatives

The photodimerization reaction of pendant thymine bases in thymine-containing poly-lysine derivatives was studied over a wide range in aqueous solution. It was found that the quantum yield of the photodimerization of pendant thymine bases is affected mainly by the conformation of the polymers in solution. The differences in photoreaction behavior were discussed for poly-D -, poly-L -, and poly-DL -lysine derivatives.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XCVI. Photochemical reactions on oligo- and polyethyleneimines which contain pendant thymine bases

The photodimerization reaction of oligo- and polyethyleneimine derivatives which contain pendant thymine bases in various amounts was studied in aqueous solution in a wide pH range and in N, N-dimethylformamide solution. The photodimerization reaction of these derivatives in poly(methyl methacrylate) was also studied. It was found that its quantum efficiency tended to increase as thymine units were added to the oligomers and copolymers. This result is discussed in terms of the effect of the nearest neighboring thymine units and singlet energy migration, particularly in the polymers.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XCIII. Photochemical reactions on the acrylic and methacrylic copolymers containing thymine bases

Photodimerization of Polyacrylic and polymethacrylic derivatives with different pendant thymine unit content was studied in dimethylformamide solution. The quantum efficiency of thymine base for the photodimerization increased with increasing thymine content in the copolymers. The quenching study, which used isoprene as the quencher, revealed that the photodimerization resulted from excited singlet state increases with increasing thymine content. The photochemical results were discussed in terms of self-association of thymine bases in the polymer chain.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XCVII. Synthesis of oligomer models of polyethyleneimine derivatives containing pendant thymine bases

A series of oligomer models of polyethyleneimine derivatives having pendant thymine bases were prepared by the reaction of carboxyethyl derivatives of thymine with oligomer amines using an activated-ester method. It was found that the hypochromicity values obtained from UV spectra and pKa values obtained from spectrophotometric titrations depend on the chain length of the oligomers and the thymine content of the polymers.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CII. Synthesis and properties of oligomer models of polyethyleneimine derivatives containing pendant adenine bases

A series of oligomer model compounds of polyethyleneimine derivatives with pendant adenine bases were prepared by the reaction of a carboxyethyl derivative of adenine with oligomeric amines, using an activated ester method. To evaluate the intramolecular interaction between pendant adenine bases in these compounds, ultraviolet spectra at various pH regions were measured. Ultraviolet hypochromicities and pK_a values depended linearly on the chain length of the oligomers. The results showed that the intramolecular interactions of adenine bases were realized less in their protonated than neutral forms.     

Vinylsulfonylethyl derivatives of nucleic acid bases and their graft polymers on polyethyleneimine

Vinylsulfonylethyl (VSE) derivatives of the nucleic acid bases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and the nucleosides inosine and uridine have been prepared via a simple Michael reaction with divinyl sulfone. The VSE derivatives were grafted on a polyethyleneimine (PEI) backbone. PEI of different molecular weights (1400, 1800 and 50,000–100,000) were used and also two different molar ratios (1:1 and 1:2) of monomer to PEI were employed. From the ¹H-NMR and elemental analysis, it appeared that in almost all instances the grafting was quantitative. In one case, both 1-VSE-thymine and 9-VSE-adenine were grafted on the same PEI backbone. Interactions between some of these polymers were investigated by UV spectroscopy. The expected complementary base pairing was observed only in DMSO–ethylene glycol solvent system but not in DMSO. The adenine polymer showed a one-to-one interaction with the thymine polymer.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CXVII. Photochemical reactions on oligo- and polyethyleneimines containing pendant thymine bases: Effect of the spacer

The photodimerization reaction of thymine bases incorporated in the modified oligo- and polyethyleneimines, in which α-alanine or ß-alanine unit was inserted between the main chain and the pendant thymine bases, was studied both in aqueous and in dimethyl sulfoxide solutions. It was found that the quantum yields for the photodimerization for the oligomers were closely related to the intramolecular interaction in the ground state, while those of the copolymers were not related to the ground state interaction. It was suggested that the singlet energy migration was present in the case of the polyethyleneimine derivatives. This result is discussed in terms of the effects of the nearest-neighboring thymine units, the structure of the side chain, and the singlet energy migration, particularly for the copolymers.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XXXXVI. A copolymerization study of methacryloyl-type monomers containing nucleic acid bases in chloroform solution

Behavior of the free radical copolymerization of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl derivatives of adenine with that of thymine was studied in chloroform solution, taking account of the specific base-base interaction of these monomers. Hydrogen bonding interaction between such monomers was observed by NMR spectroscopy. The acceleration of copolymerization was found to be greater either at lower monomer concentration or at lower polymerization temperature. When N-β-methacryloyloxyethylcarbazole was used as a comonomer, the rate of copolymerization showed a similar trend as in the case of usual free radical copolymerizations. From r₁ and r₂ values obtained, the copolymerization was found to be alternating, particularly in the case of copolymerization between monomers having complementary nucleic acid bases. The results suggest that the hydrogen bonding interaction between adenine and thymine plays a role in the propagation step.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XXXXVII. Complex formation of stereoregular methacryloyl-type polymers containing nucleic acid bases

The complex formation between a poly(N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl) derivative of adenine with one of thymine or uracil was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide and ethylene glycol mixture by ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. For the polymer pairs containing complementary nucleic acid bases both hypochromicity and hyperchromicity were found. Stereoregularity of the polymers, as well as the conditions for measurement of, for example, solvent, temperature, and time, affected the complex formation. Both inter- and intramolecular interaction of polymers in solution were discussed in some detail.     

Intra- and intermolecular interactions in the series of acyclic and macrocyclic compounds containing nucleotide bases and their derivatives

Intra-and intermolecular interactions in acyclic compounds containing nucleotide base (uracil and thymine) derivatives and their macrocyclic analogs (pyrimidinophanes) were studied by IR, UV, luminescence, and NMR spectroscopy. Molecules of these compounds include one or two N³-methylsubstituted or N³-unsubstituted uracil fragment or two adenine fragments linked through a hexamethylene spacer to an uracil, 5,5′-methylenediuracil or diphenylmethane fragment. The examined compounds almost all are characterized by π-π interactions and intramolecular hydrogen bonding between the terminal uracil or adenine fragments. Intramolecular association constants were determined and factors affecting them were discussed. Complex formation of acyclic and macrocyclic ligands with adenine and thymine derivatives was studied. The low values of the association constants were interpreted in terms of a competition between intra-and intermolecular bonding and very labile ligand structure.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XXXXI. Template polymerization of methacryloyl-type monomers containing nucleic acid bases

In due consideration of the specific base–base interaction that exists between nucleic acid molecules, the free radical polymerization of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl derivatives of adenine, thymine, and theophylline initiated by azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) was studied in the presence of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl-type polymers which have complementary nucleic acid bases as template polymers. The rate of polymerization of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyladenine was accelerated when poly(N-β-methacryloyloxyethyluracil) or -thymine was present in the polymerization system. The effect of the stereoregularity of the template polymers, as well as polymerization temperature and the sort of solvents used on the rate of polymerization, was studied and discussed in some detail. The results suggest that the interaction between complementary bases plays a role in template polymerization behavior.     

Copolymers containing alternating sequences of nucleic acid base pairs. II. Polymerization studies

The objective of this project was to utilize the alternating copolymerizability of electrondonor monomers with electron-acceptor monomers to selectively introduce nucleic acid bases into copolymers in a controlled sequence distribution. To this end, maleimide monomers containing the adenine, thymine, cytosine, and 6-chloropurine moieties were converted to their hompolymers. The homopolymer of 1-(vinyloxyethoxy)thymine was also prepared. Alternating copolymers of the adenine maleimide monomer and the corresponding 6-chloropurine maleimide monomer with 1-(vinyloxyethoxy)thymine were prepared. The latter copolymer was converted to the alternating adenine–thymine copolymer by reaction with ammonia. Characterization of the polymers and copolymers via spectroscopic methods and physical measurements confirm their proposed structures. Monomer syntheses and characterization, as well as studies designed to establish the extent and nature of adenine–thymine interactions in the copolymers, are reported in accompanying papers.     

Synthesis and Properties of Hydrophilic Copolymers Containing 5-Fluorouracil,Thymine, or Adenine

Hydrophilic copolymers containing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), thymine, or adenine were prepared by the free-radical copolymerization of methacryloyl-type monomers containing them with water-soluble vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, vinylpyrroli-done, acrylamide, and 4(5)-vinylimidazole with AIBN as initiator. Complex formation between the copolymers and RNA and between the copolymers having complementary nucleic acid bases in aqueous solution and a DMSO-ethylene glycol was studied by means of UV spectroscopy. These copolymers were found to release the N-hydroxyethyl derivatives of 5-FU, thymine, or adenine by hydrolysis of the ester of the polymer side chain under mild conditions. The effects of the kind of water-soluble comonomer, temperature, pH, and the imidazole group as catalyst on the hydrolysis of the ester are discussed.     

Interaction Between DNA and Some Salicylic Acid Derivatives and Characterization of Their DNA Targets

A nanofiber polypyrrole (PPy) film was electrochemically deposited on a Pt electrode and used for immobilization of single‐stranded DNA (ssDNA) and investigation of hybridization events. Then, the interaction of DNA with four salicylic acid (SA) derivatives was studied with electrochemical methods. The oxidation peak of guanine was decreased by increasing the concentrations of salicylic acid derivatives. The binding constants of these compounds with four different sequences of DNA including different percentages of guanine‐cytosine and adenine‐thymine bases were calculated and it was clarified that sequences with higher percentage of adenine‐thymine bases have a higher binding constant in their interaction with SA derivatives.     

Fluorescent supramolecular liquid crystalline polymers from nucleobase-terminated monomers

While thymine or N6-(4-methoxybenzoyl)adenine terminated bis(4-alkoxy)-substituted bis(phenylethynyl)benzene monomers show no liquid crystalline behaviour by themselves, mixing the complementary nucleobase monomers together results in the formation of thermotropic liquid crystalline phases.     

Synthesis and polymerisation of lipophilic peptide nucleic acids derived from stearic acid and pentacosa-10,12-diynoic acid

The adenine, cytosine and thymine peptide nucleic acid (PNA) monomers and PNA T₁₀ oligomers bearing either a diacetylenic or stearoyl moiety at the N- or C-terminus have been successfully prepared. The resulting thymine monomeric and T₁₀-mer derivatives have been subsequently incorporated into polydiacetylene-containing liposomes.     

Functional monomers and polymers 159 synthesis and photochemical reactions of polymers containing thymine photodimer units in the main chain

Polyamides containing thymine photodimer units in the main chain were synthesized, and their photolysis by ultraviolet irradiation below 260 nm were studied in film state. Photodimers of thymine derivatives were obtained by photochemical reaction of the carboxylic acid derivatives of thymine in aqueous solution irradiated above 270 nm. An attempt was made to resolve the isomers of the photodimers, and the two kinds of cis isomers [cis–syn(head to head), and cis–anti(head to tail)] were isolated successfully. The polyamides were prepared by condensation of the photodimers with diamine using an activated ester method. The photodissociation of the thymine photodimer in the polymer main chain caused the breakage of the polymer chains, leading to the production of oligomers and dimer compounds containing thymine bases at the ends of the molecule. The dissociation rate of the polymer did not depend on the kind of the thymine photodimer which was in the main chain of the polymer.     

Density functional study toward understanding dehydrogenation of the adenine-thymine base pair and its anion

The dehydrogenated radicals and anions of Watson-Crick adenine-thymine (A-T) base pair have been investigated by the B3LYP/DZP++ approach. Calculations show that the dehydrogenated radicals and anions have relatively high stabilities compared with the single base adenine and thymine. The electron attachment to the A-T base pair and its derivatives significantly modifies the hydrogen bond interactions and results in remarkable structural changes. As for the dehydrogenated A-T radicals, they have relatively high electron affinities and different dehydrogenation properties with respect to their constituent elements. The relatively low-cost hydrogen eliminations correspond to the (N9)-H (adenine) and (N1)-H (thymine) bonds cleavage. Both dehydrogenation processes have Gibbs free energies of reaction DeltaG degrees of 13.4 and 17.2 kcal mol-1, respectively. The solvent water exhibits significant effect on electron attachment and dehydrogenation properties of the A-T base pair and its derivatives. In the dehydrogenating process, the anionic A-T fragment gradually changes its electronic configuration from pi* to sigma* state, like the single bases adenine and thymine.