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′).     

Warum Pentose- und nicht Hexose-Nucleinsäuren??. Teil II. Oligonucleotide aus 2′,3′-Dideoxy-β-D-glucopyranosyl-Bausteinen (‘Homo-DNS’): Herstellung.

Why Pentose and Not Hexose Nucleic Acids? Part II . Preparation of Oligonucleotides Containing 2′,3′-Dideoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl Building Blocks⁽⁷⁾ This paper describes the preparation of the 2′,3′-dideoxy-β-D -glucopyranosyl-( = 2′,3′-dideoxy-β-D -erythro-hexopyranosyl)-derived nucleosides of the five bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, and uracil ( = ‘homo-de-oxyribonucleosides’) as well as the synthesis of oligonucleotides derived from them. The methods used for both nucleoside and oligonucleotide synthesis closely follow the known methods of synthesis in the corresponding series of natural 2′-deoxyribonucleosides and oligonucleotides. The efficient methods of automated DNA synthesis proved to be fully applicable to the synthesis of homo-DNA oligonucleotides, the only change necessary for achieving satisfactory coupling yields being a slight lengthening of the coupling time. Homo-DNA oligonucleotides with chain lengths of up to twelve nucleoside units were assembled on solid support either manually or on a commercial DNA synthesizer in scales of 0.4 μmol to as much as 200 μmol and were purified by either reversed-phase or ion-exchange HPLC to single-peak purity according to both chromatographic systems (estimated purity > 95%). The choice of the specific base sequences to be synthesized was determined primarily by the constitutional problems of base pairing that emerged from experimental observations made in the course of systematic studies of the pairing properties of homo-DNA oligonucleotides. About 100 homo-DNA sequences were prepared for this purpose. Their pairing properties will be described in Part III of this series; the present paper is restricted to the characterization of the purity and constitutional integrity of a few selected (single-stranded) oligonucleotides by ¹H-, ³¹P-, and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy as well as by FAB and time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. The English Footnotes to Schemes 1–9, Fig. 1–12, and Table 1 provide an extension of this summary.     

Nucleoside und Nucleotide. Teil 16. Verhalten von 1-(2′-Desoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyrimidinon-5′-triphosphat, 1-(2′-Desoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)pyridinon-5′-triphosphat und 4-Amino-1-(2′-Desoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridinon-5′-triphosphat gegenüber DNA-Polymerase

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. Part 16. The Behaviour of 1-(2′-Deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1H)-pyrimidinone-5′-triphosphate, 1-(2′-Deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl-2(1H))-pyridinone-5′-triphosphate and 4-Amino-1-(2′-desoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone-5′-triphosphate towards DNA Polymerase The behaviour of nucleotide base analogs in the DNA synthesis in vitro was studied. The investigated nucleoside-5′-triphosphates 1-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyrimidinone-5′-triphosphate (pppM_d), 1-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridinone-5′-triphosphate (pppII_d) and 4-amino-1-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridinone-5′-triphosphate (pppZ_d) can be considered to be analogs of 2′-deoxy-cytidine-5′-triphosphate. However, their ability to undergo base pairing to the complementary guanine is decreased. When pppM_d, pppII_d or pppZ_d are substituted for pppC_d in the enzymatic synthesis of DNA by DNA polymerase no incorporation of these analogs is observed. They exhibit only a weak inhibition of the DNA synthesis. The mode of the inhibition is uncompetitive which shows that these nucleotide analogs cannot serve as substrates for the DNA polymerase.     

Nucleoside und Nucleotide. Teil 10. Synthese von Thymidylyl-(3′-5′) -thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-1-(2′-desoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridon

Nucleosides and Nucleotides. Part 10. Synthesis of Thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-1-(2′-deoxy-β-D - ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridone The synthesis of 5′-O-monomethoxytritylthymidylyl-(3′-5′)-thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-1-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1H)-pyridone ((MeOTr)T_dpT_dp∏_d, 5 ) and of thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-thymidylyl-(3′-5′)-1-(2′-deoxy-β-D -ribofuranosyl)-2(1 H)-pyridone (T_dpT_dp∏_d, 11 ) by condensing (MeOTr) T_dpT_d ( 3 ) and p∏_d(Ac) ( 4 ) in the presence of DCC in abs. pyridine is described. Condensation of (MeOTr) T_dpT_dp ( 6 ) with Π_d(Ac) ( 7 ) did not yield the desired product 5 because compound 6 formed the 3′-pyrophosphate. The removal of the acetyl- and p-methoxytrityl protecting group was effected by treatment with conc. ammonia solution at room temperature, and acetic acid/pyridine 7 : 3 at 100°, respectively. Enzymatic degradation of the trinucleoside diphosphate 11 with phosphodiesterase I and II yielded T_d, pT_d and p∏_d, T_dp and Π_d, respectively, in correct ratios.     

Synthesis and Base Pairing Properties of 1′,5′‐Anhydro‐L‐Hexitol Nucleic Acids (L‐HNA)

Oligonucleotides composed of 1′,5′‐anhydro‐arabino‐hexitol nucleosides belonging to the L series (L ‐HNA) were prepared and preliminarily studied as a novel potential base‐pairing system. Synthesis of enantiopure L ‐hexitol nucleotide monomers equipped with a 2′‐(N⁶‐benzoyladenin‐9‐yl) or a 2′‐(thymin‐1‐yl) moiety was carried out by a de novo approach based on a domino reaction as key step. The L oligonucleotide analogues were evaluated in duplex formation with natural complements as well as with unnatural sugar‐modified oligonucleotides. In many cases stable homo‐ and heterochiral associations were found. Besides T_m measurements, detection of heterochiral complexes was unambiguously confirmed by LC‐MS studies. Interestingly, circular dichroism measurements of the most stable duplexes suggested that L ‐HNA form left‐handed helices with both D and L oligonucleotides.     

Nucleic-Acid Analogues with Constraint Conformational Flexibility in the Sugar-Phosphate Backbone (‘Bicyclo-DNA’). Part 1. Preparation of (3S,5′R)-2′-Deoxy-3′,5′-ethano-αβ-D-ribonucleosides (‘Bicyclonucleosides’)

We describe the synthesis of 2′-deoxy-3′,5′-ethano-D -ribonucleosides 1 – 8 (= (5′,8′-dihydroxy-2′-oxabicyclo-[3.3.0]oct-3′-yl)purines or -pyrimidines) of the nucleobases adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. They differ from natural 2′-deoxyribonucleosides only by an additional ethylene bridge between the centers C(3′) and C(5′). The configuration at these centers (3S,5′R) was chosen as to match the geometry of a repeating nucleoside unit in duplex DNA as close as possible. These nucleosides were designed to confer, as constituents of an oligonucleotide chain, a higher degree of preorganization of a single strand for duplex formation with respect to natural DNA, thus leading to an entropic advantage for the pairing process. The synthesis of these ‘bicyclonucleosides’ was achieved by construction of an enantiomerically pure carbohydrate precursor 18 / 19 (Schemes 1), which was then converted to the corresponding nucleosides by known methods in nucleoside synthesis (Schemes 2 and 3). In all cases, both anomeric forms of the nucleosides were obtained in pure crystalline form, the relative configuration of which was established by ¹H-NMR-NOE spectroscopy. A conformational analysis of the nucleosides with β-configuration at the anomeric center by means of X-ray and ¹H-NMR (including NOE) spectroscopy show the furanose part of the molecules to adopt uniformly a 1′exo-conformation with the base substituents preferentially in the anti-range in the pyrimidine nucleosides (anti/syn ca. 2:1) distribution in the purine nucleosides (in solution).     

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.     

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.     

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurements of 2′-Aminodeoxyuridylyl-3′,5′-Deoxyuridine

A dideoxyribonucleotide, 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridylyl 3′,5′-deoxyuridine, containing an unsual base (2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine) that isresistant to nucleases was investigated by ′H NMR. The pK_a of the protonation of the amino group (5.8) was determined by profiles of chemical shifts of protons in the vicinity of amino group versus pH. However, protonation of the amino group has little effect on the conformation of the dimer, assumed to be B-form DNA. This conclusion is drawn from the chemical shift data and coupling constants of H₁-H₂. Thus, 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine can be used in antisense and anticode oligonucleotides.     

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 ).     

Synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure 2′-thia-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine as potential anti-hepatitis B virus agents

A novel class of nucleosides with the C₁, atom bonded to three hetero atoms was synthesized. 2′-Thia-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine was the pilot compound of this series. (±)-β-2′-Thia-1′,3′-dideoxycytidine ( 6 ) and (±)-α-2′-thia-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine ( 7 ) were synthesized from (±)-3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol. The synthesis of the enantiomerically pure 2′-thia-2′,3′-dideoxycytidines (α-D-form, β-D-form, α-1-form and β-L-form) from optically pure (S)-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxalan-yl)methyl p-toluenesulfonate ( 8 ) and its (R)-isomer 18 was also described. The preliminary biological results showed that (+)-β-D-2′-thia-2′,3′-dideoxycytidine ( 26 ) was the most active against human hepatitis B virus with an ED₅₀ of 3 μM.     

Isomerisierung bei der Komplexbildung von 3-Acetyl-tetramsäure: Struktur und magnetische Eigenschaften des CuII- und NiII-Komplexes von 2,7-Bis(1′, 5′, 5′-trimethylpyrrolidin-2′, 4′-dion-3′ -yl)-3, 6-diazaocta-2, 6-dien

Isomerization at the Complexation of 3-Acetyltetramic Acid: Structure and Magnetic Properties of the Cu^II- and Ni^II-Complex of 2,7-Bis (1′, 5′, 5′ -trimethylpyrrolidin-2′,4′ -dion-3′ -yl)-3,6-diazaocta-2,6-dien 2,7-Bis(1′, 5′, 5′ -trimethylpyrrolidin-2′, 4′ -dion-3′ -yl)-3,6-diazaoctadien formes Cu^II and Ni^II complexes with different constitutions (because of the Z/E isomerization). Results of X-ray analysis of N,N′ -ethylenbis(1′, 5′, 5′ -trimethylpyrrolidin-2′, 4′ -dion-3′ -acetiminato)nickel(II) 1 respectively -copper(II) 2 shows, that the complexing agent in 1 occurs in the E-form, whereas the ligand of the Cu^II complex forms the Z-form. Magnetic susceptibility and shift effects of the ¹³C-NMR signals point to a weak paramagnetism of the Ni^II complex. ESR-spectra are obtained from 2 only. Furthermore, the Cu^II complex reduces the relaxation times T₁ and T₂ of ¹H and ¹⁷O nuclei spins from water. From the temperature dependence of the shortening of the relaxation times an activation energy is calculated which describes the reorientation of the copper complex in the “water matrix”.     

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.     

Nucleic-Acid Analogs with Restricted Conformational Flexibility in the Sugar-Phosphate Backbone (‘Bicyclo-DNA’). Part 5. Synthesis,Characterization, and Pairing Properties of Oligo-α-D-(bicyclodeoxynucleotides) of the Bases Adenine and Thymine (α-Bicyclo-DNA)

A conformational analysis of the (3′S,5′R)-2′-deoxy-3′,5′-ethano-α-D -ribonucleosides (a-D-bicyclodeoxynucleosides) based on the X-ray analysis of N⁴-benzoyl-α-D -(bicyclodeoxycytidine) 6 and on ¹H-NMR analysis of the α-D -bicyclodeoxynucleoside derivatives 1 - 7 reveals a rigid sugar structure with the furanose units in the l′-exo/2′-endo conformation and the secondary OH groups on the carbocyclic ring in the pseudoequatorial orientation. Oligonucleotides consisting of α-D -bicyclothymidine and α-D -bicyclodeoxyadenosine were successfully synthesized from the corresponding nucleosides by phosphoramidite methodology on a DNA synthesizer. An evaluation of their pairing properties with complementary natural RNA and DNA by means of UV/melting curves and CD spectroscopy show the following characteristics: i) α-bcd(A₁₀) and α-bcd(T₁₀) (α = short form of α-D )efficiently form complexes with complementary natural DNA and RNA. The stability of these hybrids is comparable or slightly lower as those with natural β-d(A₁₀) or β-d(T₁₀)( β = short form ofβ-D ). ii) The strand orientation in α-bicyclo-DNA/β-DNA duplexes is parallel as was deduced from UV/melting curves of decamers with nonsymmetric base sequences. iii) CD Spectroscopy shows significant structural differences between α-bicyclo-DNA/β-DNA duplexes compared to α-DNA/β-DNA duplexes. Furthermore, α-bicyclo-DNA is ca. 100-fold more resistant to the enzyme snake-venom phosphodiesterase with respect to β-DNA and about equally resistant as α-DNA.     

Angiotensin-II Analogues. I: Synthesis and incorporation of the halogenated amino acids 3-(4′-iodophenyl)alanine, 3-(3′,5′-dibromo-4′-chlorophenyl)alanine, 3-(3′,4′,5′-tribromophenyl)alanine,and 3-(2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-pentabromophenyl)alanine

The synthesis of the polyhalogenated phenylalanines Phe(3′,4′,5′-Br₃) ( 3 ), Phe(3′,5′-Br₂-4′-Cl) ( 4 ) and DL -Phe (2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-Br₅) ( 9 ) is described. The trihalogenated phenylalanines 3 and 4 are obtained stereospecifically from Phe(4′-NH₂) by electrophilic bromination followed by Sandmeyer reaction. The most hydrophobic amino acid 9 is synthesized from pentabromobenzyl bromide and a glycine analogue by phase-transfer catalysis. With the amino acids 4, 9 , Phe(4′-I) and D -Phe, analogues of [1-sarcosin]angiotensin II ([Sar¹]AT) are produced for structure-activity studies and tritium incorporation. The diastereomeric pentabromo peptides L - and D - 13 are separated by HPLC. and identified by catalytic dehalogenation and comparison to [Sar¹]AT ( 10 ) and [Sar¹, D -Phe⁸]AT ( 14 ).     

Synthesis of Carotenoids in the Gliding Bacteria Taxeobacter: (all-E,2′R)-3-deoxy-2′-hydroxyflexixanthin

The c₄₀-carotenoid (all-E, 2′R)-deoxy-2′-hydroxyflexixanthin (=1′,2′-dihydroxy-3′,4′-didehydro-1′,2′-dihydro-β,ψ-caroten-4-one;(2′R)- 2 ) was synthesized according to a C₁₅ + C₁₀ + C₁₀ = C₄₀ strategy. The chiral centre was introduced into the C₁₀-end group by the enantioselective Sharpless dihydroxylation. The four building blocks were coupled by applying four consecutive Witting reactions. By comparison of the CD spectra of the synthetic (2′R)- 2 with those of 2 isolated from the gliding bacteria Taxeobacter, the configuration of natural 2 was determined as (2′R).     

Ab initio calculations on the barrier to pseudorotation of model 2′-deoxyfuranose and 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorofuranose rings

Model ring systems 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibofuranose and deoxyribofuranose have been investigated using ab initio calculations with the 3–21G basis set. The energy barrier to pseudorotation between the N and S states has been evaluated for the three preferred orientations of the (3′)-OH group. Positions of the energy minima and the transition state have been optimized with respect to the (3′)-OH orientation. The barrier to pseudorotation of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorofuranose is high and asymmetrical (ΔE_N→S ≈ 20, ΔE_N←S ≈ 8 kJ/mol), whereas the barrier of 2′-deoxyfuranose is lower and almost symmetrical (ΔE ≈ 11–12 kJ/mol). The results obtained show that the preferred configuration of the 2′-deoxy-2′-fluororibo-furanose (N state) is stabilized by an internal O(3′)-H…?F interaction in accord with the crystallo-graphic data.     

The α‐L‐Threofuranosyl‐(3′→2′)‐oligonucleotide System (‘TNA'): Synthesis and Pairing Properties

Our studies of α‐L ‐Threofuranosyl‐(3′→2′)‐oligonucleotides (‘TNA') are part of a systematic experimental inquiry into the base‐pairing properties of potentially natural nucleic acid alternatives taken from RNA's close structural neighborhood. TNA is an efficient Watson‐Crick base‐pairing system and has the capability of informational cross‐pairing with both RNA and DNA. This property, together with the system's constitutional and (presumed) generational simplicity, warrants special scrutiny of TNA in the context of the search for chemical clues to RNA's origin.     

Nucleotides. Part XXXVI. Syntheses and biological characterization of phosphorothioate analogues of (3′–5′)adenylate trimer

The four protected diastereoisomcrs 7a / 7b and 8a / 8b P-thioadenylyl-(3′–5′)-P-thioadenylyI-(3′–5′)-adenosine were synthesized, separated, and deblocked to the free oligonucleotides (Scheme). Biochemical characterization of these (3′–5′)phosphorothioate analogues of adenyiate trimer indicate that these compounds, and the corresponding 5′-monophosphates, neither bind to nor activate RNase L, and are considered to be valuable control compounds in screening experiments.