Substituent Reactivity and Tautomerism of Isoguanosine and Related Nucleosides

The substituent reactivity and tautomerism of isoguanine nucleosides is studied. Benzoylation or tosylation of isoguanine nucleosides (pyridine, room temperature) yields the 2-benzoyl derivatives 7c, 11 , and 12 or the 2-tosyl compounds 13 and 14 . The isobutyrylation of the 6-amino group which did not occur under these conditions was induced in the presence of Me₃SiCl. In the absence of Me₃SiCl, the reactivity of isoguanine substituents decreases in the order from 2-oxo → 5′-OH → 3′-OH → 6-NH₂. From isoguanine nucleosides, the N¹-( 2b ), N³-( 17 ), N⁶-( 15a,b ), and 2-O-alkylated ( 3b ) derivatives were prepared. Their pK_a values were determined and the UV and ¹³C-NMR spectra compared with regard to the alkylation position. Also the tautomeric forms of isoguanine nucleosides were determined UV-spectrophotometrically in aqueous and nonaqueous solution. Isoguanosine ( 1a ), its 2′-deoxy analogue 1b as well as the N⁶-methyl- and 8-substituted derivatives form lactam tautomers in aqueous solution, whereas the lactim form is present in dioxane.