Synthesis of porphyrinyl-nucleosides

Several porphyrinyl-nucleosides were prepared in the reaction of the OH group of one, two or four meso-p-hydroxyphenyl substituents of porphyrin with 5′-O-tosylates of 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-adenosine or -uridine, or 5′-O-tosylthymidine; the remaining porphyrin meso-substituents were p-tolyl, p-hydroxyphenyl or 4-pyridyl. The following porphyrinyl-nucleosides were obtained with 8–17% yield: meso-di(p-tolyl)di(p-phenylene-5′-O-2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-adenosine) (or -uridine)porphyrins 1,2 , the respective meso-tetranucleosideporphyrins 3,4 -meso-mono(p-phenylene-5′-O-thymidine)porphyrins 5–7 , meso-di(p-tolyl)di(p-phenylene-5′-O-thymidine)porphyrins 8,9 and the meso-di(p-hydroxyphenyl)di(p-phenylene-5′-O-thymidine)porphyrins 10. Other compounds prepared belonged to the series: meso(4-pyridyl)_4?n(p-phenylene-5′-O-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneuridine)_nporphyrin, n = 1, 2 or 4, 11–13. N-Methylation gave the water soluble iodide salts: (N-methyl-4-pyridinium)4_4?n(p-phenylene-5′-O-2′,3′-isopropylideneuridine)_nporphyrins, n = 1, 2 or 4, 14–16. The ms fab showed in most cases stepwise detachment of the CH₂(5′)-nucleoside fragments. The porphyrins meso disubstituted by thymidine represent a convenient substrate for the build-up of both nucleoside units into the oligo/polynucleotide chains.