Functional monomers and polymers. CXXXI.. Synthesis and interaction studies on polyacrylamide and polymethacrylamide derivatives containing nucleic acid bases

Acrylamide and methacrylamide derivatives of nucleic acid bases were prepared from the corresponding aminoethyl derivatives. Free-radical polymerization of these monomers in water or in organic solvents gave their polymers. From the studies of the polymer complex formation by UV spectroscopy, it was found that extremely stable polymer complexes were formed between complementary polymers containing nucleic acid bases.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CXXXII. Template polymerization of methacrylamide derivatives containing nucleic acid bases

Free-radical polymerizations of methacrylamide derivatives containing nucleic acid bases were studied in the presence of the polymethacrylamide having complementary nucleic acid bases as template polymers. The rate of the polymerization did not show remarkable difference in the presence or the absence of the template polymer. A stable polymer complex, however, was precipitated from the polymerization system, and was found to be different in a thermal analysis from the polymer complex which was obtained by mixing of the complementary polymers in solution. Free-radical copolymerizations in the presence of the template polymers also supported the template polymerization.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XIX. Copolymerization of vinyl monomers containing nucleic acid bases

Taking into account the specific base–base interaction existing between nucleic acid molecules, we studied the free-radical copolymerization of N-β-methacryloyloxyethyl derivative of uracil with that of adenine at 60°C in various solvents. N-β-Methacryloyloxyethyltheophylline as well as methyl methacrylate were used also as comonomers. From the data on the rates in different comonomer feed ratios and the r₁ and r₂ values obtained, copolymerizability was discussed in some detail. The results suggest that the interaction between uracil and adenine bases plays a role in the copolymerization behavior.     

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.     

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. 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. 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.     

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. 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. 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.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CX. Methylation and interaction studies on uracil-containing polymethacrylate derivatives

A polymethacrylate derivative containing uracil bases was methylated by using methyl iodide or dimethyl sulfate to give polymers containing 3-methyluracil derivatives. In the case of methylation with dimethyl sulfate, sulfonation at 5-position of the bases occurred in addition to the methylation at N-3 position. The methylated polymers thus obtained were used further for the study of polymer complex formation with polymethacrylate containing adenine base.     

Functional monomers and polymers. LXXXVI. Photochemical reactions on synthetic polymers with pendant thymine bases: Effect of solvents

Photodimerization of thymine bases present on the side chain of acryloyl and methacryloyl-type polymers was studied in dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethylformamide, and dimethyl sulfoxide—ethylene glycol mixture. Quantum efficiencies for photodimerization and quenching with isoprene were influenced by the solvents. The self-association of thymine bases estimated from their ultraviolet (UV) spectra and intrinsic viscosity were related to the effect of solvent on the photodimerization.     

Functional monomers and polymers. CXXI. Methylation and interaction studies on adenine containing polymethacrylate derivatives

Studies of the methylation of polymethacrylate derivatives with adenine bases were made in comparison to those with uracil bases. The polymethacrylate derivatives with adenine bases were methylated by using methyl iodide in dimethyl sulfoxide solution to produce polymers that contained N¹-methyladenine and N¹, N⁶-dimethyladenine units. The products were identified by spectroscopic data and by preparing their model compounds. The methylated polymers obtained were further applied in a study of polymer complex formation with uracil-base polymers.     

Functional monomers and polymers. XCV. Photochemical reactions on synthetic polymers having pendant thymine bases in polymethyl methacrylate film

The photodimerization reaction of synthetic polymers which contain thymine bases was studied in polymethyl methacrylate film. The quantum efficiency for the photodimerization of the thymine bases of polyacrylate and polymethacrylate, fixed in the polymethyl methacrylate film was measured. The value of the film was higher than those measured in solution.     

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.     

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. CLIV. Application of nucleic acid base containing polymers to high performance liquid chromatography

Poly-L -lysine (PLL) derivatives containing pendant nucleic acid base, such as thymine or adenine, were bonded successfully to 3-aminopropylsilanized silica (APS-silica) and silica gel. These resins were found to be useful as the column of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the selective separation of oligoethyleneimine derivatives having pendant thymine or adenine bases.     

Functional monomers and polymers. LXIII. A study on the polymer–polymer interaction between nucleic acid base-substituted poly-L-lysines

A study of polymer-polymer interaction was made on several poly-L -lysines that contained pendant nucleic acid bases substituted on the N′ position. Conformation and interaction of these polypeptides were studied in solution by spectroscopic measurement. The results obtained suggest that the high-molecular-weight polymers form polymer complexes in a helical conformation by specific adenine-thymine base pairing. On the other hand, no interaction could be observed for the low-molecular-weight polymers, which existed in a random coil structure.     

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.