Synthesis of N2-alkyl-8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine derivatives and effects of these modifications on RNA duplex stability

N(2)-alkyl analogues of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (OG) were synthesized (alkyl = propyl, benzyl) via reductive amination of the protected OG nucleoside and incorporated into various positions of an RNA strand. Thermal stability studies of duplexes containing A or C opposite a single modified base revealed only moderate destabilization. Both OG as well as its N(2)-alkyl analogues can pair opposite A or C with nearly equal stability, potentially offering a new means of modulating RNA-protein interactions in the minor vs major grooves.