Nucleobase-Functionalized 7-Deazaisoguanine and 7-Deazapurin-2,6-diamine Nucleosides: Halogenation, Cross-Coupling, and Cycloaddition.

The functionalization in position-7 of 7-deazaisoguanine and 7-deazapurin-2,6-diamine ribo- and 2'-deoxyribonucleosides by halogen atoms (chloro, bromo, iodo), and clickable alkynyl and vinyl side chains for copper-catalyzed and copper-free cycloadditions is described. Problems arising during the synthesis of the 7-iodinated isoguanine ribo- and 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were solved by the action of acetone. The impact of side chains and halogen atoms on the pKa values and hydrophobicity of nucleosides was investigated. Halogenated substituents increase the lipophilic character of nucleosides in the order Cl < Br < I and decrease the pK values of protonation. Photophysical properties (fluorescence, solvatochromism, and quantum yields) of azide-alkyne click adducts bearing pyrene as sensor groups were determined. Pyrene fluorescence was solvent-dependent and changed according to the linker lengths. Excimer emission was observed in dioxane for the long linker adduct. Bioorthogonal inverse-electron-demanding Diels-Alder cycloadditions (iEDDA) were conducted on the electron-rich vinyl groups of 7-deazaisoguanine and 7-deazapurin-2,6-diamine nucleosides as dienophiles and 3,6-dipyridyl-1,2,4,5-tetrazine as diene. The initially formed complex reaction mixture of isomers could be easily oxidized with iodine in tetrahydrofuran (THF)/pyridine leading to single aromatic tetrazine adducts within a short time and in excellent yields.

Glycosylation of Pyrrolo[2,3- d]pyrimidines with 1- O-Acetyl-2,3,5-tri- O-benzoyl-ß-d-ribofuranose: Substituents and Protecting Groups Effecting the Synthesis of 7-Deazapurine Ribonucleosides.

Glycosylation of nonfunctionalized 6-chloro-7-deazapurine with commercially available 1- O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri- O-benzoyl-ß-d-ribofuranose (45%) followed by amination and deprotection gave tubercidin in only two steps. Similar conditions applied for the synthesis of 7-deazaguanosine employing pivaloylated 2-amino-6-chloro-7-deazapurine gave 18% glycosylation yield. The less bulky isobutyryl or acetyl protected amino group directed the glycosylation toward the exocyclic amino substituent. 7-Halogenated intermediates were glycosylated followed by dehalogenation to overcome the low glycosylation yield in the synthesis of 7-deazaguanosine.

Guanine and 8-Azaguanine in Anomeric DNA Hybrid Base Pairs: Stability, Fluorescence Sensing, and Efficient Mismatch Discrimination with α-d-Nucleosides.

The α-anomers of 8-aza-2'-deoxyguanosine (αGd*) and 2'-deoxyguanosine (αGd) were site-specifically incorporated in 12-mer duplexes opposite to the four canonical DNA constituents dA, dG, dT, and dC. Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing αGd* display significant fluorescence at slightly elevated pH (8.0). Oligodeoxyribonucleotides incorporating ß-anomeric 8-aza-2'-deoxyguanosine (Gd*) and canonical dG were studied for comparison. For αGd* synthesis, an efficient purification of anomeric 8-azaguanine nucleosides was developed on the basis of protected intermediates, and a new αGd* phosphoramidite was prepared. Differences were observed for sugar conformations ( N vs S) and p Ka values of anomeric nucleosides. Duplex stability and mismatch discrimination were studied employing UV-dependent melting and fluorescence quenching. A gradual fluorescence change takes place in duplex DNA when the α-nucleoside αGd* was positioned opposite to the four canonical ß-nucleosides. The strongest fluorescence decrease appeared in duplexes incorporating αGd*-Cd base pair matches. Decreasing fluorescence corresponds to increasing Tm values. For mismatch discrimination, the α-anomers αGd* and αGd are more efficient than the corresponding ß-nucleosides. Duplexes with single "purine-purine" αGd*-αGd* or αGd-αGd base pairs are significantly more stable than those displaying ß-d configuration. CD spectra indicate that single mutations by α-anomeric nucleosides do not affect the global structure of B-DNA.

5-Aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine and 2'-Deoxycytidine Form Programmable Silver-Mediated Base Pairs with Metal Ions in the Core of the DNA Double Helix.

5-Aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine (dZ) forms a silver-mediated base pair with dC. The metal ion pair represents a mimic of the H-bonded Watson-Crick dG-dC pair. The modified nucleoside displays a similar shape as the parent 2'-deoxyguanosine from which it can be constructed by transposition of nitrogen-7 to the bridgehead position-5. It lacks the major groove binding site as the positional change moves the dG- acceptor position from nitrogen-7 to nitrogen-1. As a shape mimic of dG, it fits nicely in the DNA double helix. The purine-pyrimidine dZ-dC hetero pair shows a relationship to the pyrimidine-pyrimidine dC-dC homo base pair. The dZ-dC pair forms a mismatch in the absence of silver ions and matches after addition of metal ions. Base-pair formation was verified on self-complementary 6-mer duplexes and 12-mer DNA with random composition by UV-dependent Tm measurements. Modified silver-mediated and hydrogen-bonded canonical base pairs can coexist. The dZ-Ag+ -dC base pair is slightly less stable than the dG-dC pair, shows sequence dependence, and consumes one or two silver ions. These properties make the dZ-Ag+ -dC pair suitable for programmable incorporation of silver ions in DNA which cannot be achieved by canonical base pairs. If the silver ion content is higher than the total number of base pairs the duplexes turn into very stable structures in which all base pairs are considered to be in the silver-mediated pairing mode.

Gemcitabine, Pyrrologemcitabine, and 2'-Fluoro-2'-Deoxycytidines: Synthesis, Physical Properties, and Impact of Sugar Fluorination on Silver Ion Mediated Base Pairing.

The stability of silver-mediated "dC-dC" base pairs relies not only on the structure of the nucleobase, but is also sensitive to structural modification of the sugar moiety. 2'-Fluorinated 2'-deoxycytidines with fluorine atoms in the arabino (up) and ribo (down) configuration as well as with geminal fluorine substitution (anticancer drug gemcitabine) and the novel fluorescent phenylpyrrolo-gemcitabine (ph PyrGem) have been synthesized. All the nucleosides display the recognition face of naturally occurring 2'-deoxycytidine. The nucleosides were converted into phosphoramidites and incorporated into 12-mer oligonucleotides by solid-phase synthesis. The addition of silver ions to DNA duplexes with a fluorine-modified "dC-dC" pair near the central position led to significant duplex stabilization. The increase in stability was higher for duplexes with fluorinated sugar residues than for those with an unchanged 2'-deoxyribose moiety. Similar observations were made for "dC-dT" pairs and to a minor extent for "dC-dA" pairs. The increase in silver ion mediated base-pair stability was reversed by annulation of a pyrrole ring to the cytosine moiety, as shown for 2'-fluorinated ph PyrGem in comparison with phenylpyrrolo-dC (ph PyrdC). This phenomenon results from stereoelectronic effects induced by fluoro substitution, which are transmitted from the sugar moiety to the silver ion mediated base pairs. The extent of the effect depends on the number of fluorine substituents, their configuration, and the structure of the nucleobase.

MercuryII-mediated base pairs in DNA: unexpected behavior in metal ion binding and duplex stability induced by 2'-deoxyuridine 5-substituents.

The stability of the mercury ion mediated dU-HgII-dU pair depends on substituents introduced at the 5-position of the pyrimidine moiety. To this end, a series of oligonucleotides were synthesized with dU modification in central position. Common and new phosphoramidites were utilized. Hybridization experiments provided 12-mer duplexes with non-canonical "dU-dU" pairs. In most cases Hg2+ stabilizes duplexes by metal ion mediated base pair formation identified by higher duplex melting. Among the three types of dU derivatives incorporated in duplex DNA those with small aliphatic side chains have only a minor impact on the stability of the mercury-mediated base pair, while those with a triple bond in the side chain show hysteresis during duplex heating and cooling cycle implying triple bond interaction with mercury ions. Formation of metal ion mediated base pairs is blocked by space occupying aromatic side chains by side chain-helix stacking interactions. These interactions are too strong to permit mercury ion mediated base pair formation and drive the uridine N(3) acceptor atoms in an unfavorable pairing position.

7-Deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine: Selective Nucleobase Halogenation, Positional Impact of Space-Occupying Substituents, and Stability of DNA with Parallel and Antiparallel Strand Orientation.

The positional impact of phenyl or phenyltriazolyl residues on the properties of 7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine, such as fluorescence, sugar conformation, and stability in DNA and DNA-RNA double helixes was studied. To this end, regioselective iodination protocols were developed for 7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine affording the 7- and 8-iodo isomers. The aromatic side chains were introduced by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling or click reaction. Only the 8-phenyl nucleoside shows strong fluorescence in polar aprotic solvents accompanied by solvatochromism. The conformation of the sugar moiety was shifted toward S due to the bulky 8-substituent. Phosphoramidite building blocks and oligonucleotides were synthesized. 8-Substituted 7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosines destabilize canonical (aps) DNA as well as DNA with parallel strand (ps) orientation. The base pair stability was maintained when the space-occupying substitutes were located at the 7-position. Unexpectedly, the bulky phenyltriazolyl "click" residue is well-accommodated at the 7-position of ps DNA and even led to a stabilization of the parallel double helix. CD spectra indicate that functionalization leads only to local distortion of the double helix while the overall structure of aps and ps DNA is maintained.

2'-O-Methyl- and 2'-O-propargyl-5-methylisocytidine: synthesis, properties and impact on the isoCd-dG and the isoCd-isoGd base pairing in nucleic acids with parallel and antiparallel strand orientation.

Oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-methylated 5-methylisocytidine (3) and 2'-O-propargyl-5-methylisocytidine (4) as well as the non-functionalized 5-methyl-2'-deoxyisocytidine (1b) were synthesized. MALDI-TOF mass spectra of oligonucleotides containing 1b are susceptible to a stepwise depyrimidination. In contrast, oligonucleotides incorporating 2'-O-alkylated nucleosides 3 and 4 are stable. This is supported by acid catalyzed hydrolysis experiments performed on nucleosides in solution. 2'-O-Alkylated nucleoside 3 was synthesized from 2'-O-5-dimethyluridine via tosylation, anhydro nucleoside formation and ring opening. The corresponding 4 was obtained by direct regioselective alkylation of 5-methylisocytidine (1d) with propargyl bromide under phase-transfer conditions. Both compounds were converted to phosphoramidites and employed in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Hybridization experiments resulted in duplexes with antiparallel or parallel chains. In parallel duplexes, methylation or propargylation of the 2'-hydroxyl group of isocytidine leads to destabilization while in antiparallel DNA this effect is less pronounced. 2'-O-Propargylated 4 was used to cross-link nucleosides and oligonucleotides to homodimers by a stepwise click ligation with a bifunctional azide.

Duplex DNA and DNA-RNA hybrids with parallel strand orientation: 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroisocytidine, 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroisoguanosine, and canonical nucleosides with 2'-fluoro substituents cause unexpected changes on the double helix stability.

Oligonucleotides with parallel or antiparallel strand orientation incorporating 2'-fluorinated 2'-deoxyribonucleosides with canonical nucleobases or 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroisocytidine ((F)iCd, 1c) and 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoroisoguanosine ((F)iGd, 3c) were synthesized. To this end, the nucleosides 1c and 3c as well as the phosphoramidite building blocks 19 and 23 were prepared and employed in solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis. Unexpectedly, (F)iCd is not stable during oligonucleotide deprotection (55 °C, aq NH3) and was converted to a cyclonucleoside (14). Side product formation was circumvented when oligonucleotides were deprotected under mild conditions (aq ammonia-EtOH, rt). Oligonucleotides containing 2'-fluoro substituents ((F)iCd, (F)iGd and fluorinated canonical 2'-deoxyribonucleosides) stabilize double-stranded DNA, RNA, and DNA-RNA hybrids with antiparallel strand orientation. Unexpected strong stability changes are observed for oligonucleotide duplexes with parallel chains. While fluorinated oligonucleotides form moderately stable parallel stranded duplexes with complementary DNA, they do not form stable hybrids with RNA. Furthermore, oligoribonucleotide duplexes with parallel strand orientation are extremely unstable. It is anticipated that nucleic acids with parallel chains might be too rigid to accept sugar residues in the N-conformation as observed for ribonucleosides or 2'-deoxy-2'-fluororibonucleosides. These observations might explain why nature has evolved the principle of antiparallel chain orientation and has not used the parallel chain alignment.

Imidazolo-dC metal-mediated base pairs: purine nucleosides capture two Ag(+) ions and form a duplex with the stability of a covalent DNA cross-link.

8-Phenylimidazolo-dC ((ph) ImidC, 2) forms metal-mediated DNA base pairs by entrapping two silver ions. To this end, the fluorescent "purine" 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 2 has been synthesised and converted into the phosphoramidite 6. Owing to the ease of nucleobase deprotonation, the new Ag(+) -mediated base pair containing a "purine" skeleton is much stronger than that derived from the pyrrolo- [3,4-d]pyrimidine system ((ph) PyrdC, 1). The silver-mediated (ph) ImidC-(ph) ImidC base pair fits well into the DNA double helix and has the stability of a covalent cross-link. The formation of such artificial metal base pairs might not be limited to DNA but may be applicable to other nucleic acids such as RNA, PNA and GNA as well as other biopolymers.

5-Nitroindole oligonucleotides with alkynyl side chains: universal base pairing, triple bond hydration and properties of pyrene "click" adducts.

Oligonucleotides with 3-ethynyl-5-nitroindole and 3-octadiynyl-5-nitroindole 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were prepared by solid-phase synthesis. To this end, nucleoside phosphoramidites with clickable side chains were synthesized. The 3-ethynylated 5-nitroindole nucleoside was hydrated during automatized DNA synthesis to 3-acetyl-5-nitroindole 2'-deoxyribonucleoside. Side product formation was circumvented by triisopropylsilyl protection of the ethynyl side chain and was removed with TBAF after oligonucleotide synthesis. All compounds with a clickable 5-nitroindole skeleton show universal base pairing and can be functionalized with almost any azide in any position of the DNA chain. Functionalization of the side chain with 1-azidomethylpyrene afforded click adducts in which the fluorescence was quenched by the 5-nitroindole moieties. However, fluorescence was slightly recovered during duplex formation. Oligonucleotides with a pyrene residue and a long linker arm are stabilized over those with non-functionalized side chains. From the UV red shift of the pyrene residue in oligonucleotides and modelling studies, pyrene intercalation was established for the long linker adduct showing increased duplex stability over those with a short side chain.

High-density functionalization and cross-linking of DNA: "click" and "bis-click" cycloadditions performed on alkynylated oligonucleotides with fluorogenic anthracene azides.

High density functionalization of DNA with ethynyl and octadiynyl side chains followed by CuAAC "click labeling" with 9-azidomethylanthracene was performed. Alkynyl DNA was also cross-linked with fluorogenic 9,10-bis-azidomethylanthracene employing the "bis-click" reaction. By this means the fluorescence of the anthracene moiety was imparted to the virtually nonfluorescent DNA. Phosphoramidites of 8-aza-7-deaza-2'-deoxyadenosine with short and long linker arms in a steric nondemanding 7-position were utilized in solid phase oligodeoxynucleotide synthesis. High density alkynylated DNA-without anthracene residues-was found to be of comparable stability with both long and short linker arms. High density anthracene functionalized DNA became less stable with the short linker compared to that with the long linker connectivity. Interstrand cross-linked homodimers constructed from alkynylated oligonucleotides with fluorogenic 9,10-bis-azidomethylanthracene were hybridized with complementary strands to form double helices. They are more stable when the linker was located at a terminus than in a central position. Short linker anthracene adducts were destabilizing compared to long linker adducts. The fluorogenic anthracene residues not only have a significant effect on the duplex stability, but also impart fluorescence to the species. Fluorescence of cross-linked double helices with long linker connectivity was quenched when the cross-link was in a terminal position and was dequenched when the linker was connecting the two double helices at the center of the molecule. The fluorescence of the anthracene cross-linked double helices was strongly increased (dequenched) when the correct base pair was formed, while no change occurred upon mismatch formation.

Ethynyl side chain hydration during synthesis and workup of "clickable" oligonucleotides: bypassing acetyl group formation by triisopropylsilyl protection.

Clickable oligonucleotides with ethynyl residues in the 5-position of pyrimidines ((eth)dC and (eth)dU) or the 7-position of 7-deazaguanine ((eth)c(7)G(d)) are hydrated during solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and workup conditions. The side products were identified as acetyl derivatives by MALDI-TOF mass spectra of oligonucleotides and by detection of modified nucleosides after enzymatic phosphodiester hydrolysis. Ethynyl → acetyl group conversion was also studied on ethynylated nucleosides under acidic and basic conditions. It could be shown that side chain conversion depends on the nucleobase structure. Triisopropylsilyl residues were introduced to protect ethynyl residues from hydration. Pure, acetyl group free oligonucleotides were isolated after desilylation in all cases.

Stepwise click functionalization of DNA through a bifunctional azide with a chelating and a nonchelating azido group.

A stepwise chemoselective click reaction was performed on nucleosides and oligonucleotides containing 7-octadiynyl-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine and 5-octadiynyl-2'-deoxycytidine with unsymmetrical 2,5-bis(azidomethyl)pyridine using copper(II) acetate. The reaction is selective for the chelating azido group, thereby forming monofunctionalized adducts still carrying the nonchelating azido functionality. The azido-functionalized adduct was applied to a second click reaction, now performed in the presence of reducing agent, to generate cross-linked DNA or a pyrene click conjugate. The chelate-controlled stepwise click reaction is applicable to alkynylated nucleosides and oligonucleotides.

A ratiometric fluorescent on-off Zn2+ chemosensor based on a tripropargylamine pyrene azide click adduct.

A new, easy-to-prepare and highly selective pyrene-linked tris-triazole amine fluorescent chemosensor has been designed from tripropargylamine and pyrene azide using Cu(I)-catalyzed click chemistry. The fluorescence on-off sensor 1 is highly selective for Zn(2+) displaying a ratiometric change in emission. The relative intensity ratio of monomer to excimer fluorescence (M(376)/E(465)) of the sensor increases 80-fold upon the addition of 10 equiv of Zn(2+) ions (with a detection limit of 0.2 µM).

7-Deazapurine and 8-aza-7-deazapurine nucleoside and oligonucleotide pyrene "click" conjugates: synthesis, nucleobase controlled fluorescence quenching, and duplex stability.

7-Deazapurine and 8-aza-7-deazapurine nucleosides related to dA and dG bearing 7-octadiynyl or 7-tripropargylamine side chains as well as corresponding oligonucleotides were synthesized. "Click" conjugation with 1-azidomethyl pyrene (10) resulted in fluorescent derivatives. Octadiynyl conjugates show only monomer fluorescence, while the proximal alignment of pyrene residues in the tripropargylamine derivatives causes excimer emission. 8-Aza-7-deazapurine pyrene "click" conjugates exhibit fluorescence emission much higher than that of 7-deazapurine derivatives. They are quenched by intramolecular charge transfer between the nucleobase and the dye. Oligonucleotide single strands decorated with two "double clicked" pyrenes show weak or no excimer fluorescence. However, when duplexes carry proximal pyrenes in complementary strands, strong excimer fluorescence is observed. A single replacement of a canonical nucleoside by a pyrene conjugate stabilizes the duplex substantially, most likely by stacking interactions: 6-12 °C for duplexes with a modified "adenine" base and 2-6 °C for a modified "guanine" base. The favorable photophysical properties of 8-aza-7-deazapurine pyrene conjugates improve the utility of pyrene fluorescence reporters in oligonucleotide sensing as these nucleoside conjugates are not affected by nucleobase induced quenching.

"Double click" reaction on 7-deazaguanine DNA: synthesis and excimer fluorescence of nucleosides and oligonucleotides with branched side chains decorated with proximal pyrenes.

The 7-tripropargylamine-7-deaza-2'-deoxyguanosine (2) containing two terminal triple bonds in the side chain was synthesized by the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction from the corresponding 7-iodo nucleoside 1b. This was protected at the 2-amino group with an iso-butyryl residue, affording the protected intermediate 5. Then, compound 5 was converted to the 5'-O-DMT derivative 6, which on phosphitylation afforded the phosphoramidite 7. This was employed in solid-phase synthesis of a series of oligonucleotides. T(m) measurements demonstrate that a covalently attached tripropargylamine side chain increases duplex stability. Both terminal triple bonds of nucleoside 2 and corresponding oligonucleotides were functionalized by the Cu(I)-mediated 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition "double click reaction" with 1-azidomethyl pyrene 3, decorating the side chain with two proximal pyrenes. While the monomeric tripropargylamine nucleoside with two proximal pyrenes (4) shows strong excimer fluorescence, the ss-oligonucleotide containing 4 does not. This was also observed for ds-oligonucleotides when the complementary strand was unmodified. However, duplex DNA bearing pyrene residues in both strands exhibits strong excimer fluorescence when each strand contains two pyrene residues linked to the tripropargylamine moiety. This pyrene-pyrene interstrand interaction occurs when the pyrene modification sites of the duplex are separated by two base pairs which bring the fluorescent dyes in a proximal position. Molecular modeling indicates that only two out of four pyrene residues are interacting forming the exciplex while the other two do not communicate.

A toyocamycin analogue with the sugar moiety in a syn conformation.

The title compound [systematic name: 4-amino-5-cyano-1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine hemihydrate], C(12)H(13)N(5)O(4).0.5H(2)O, is a regioisomer of toyocamycin with the ribofuranosyl residue attached to the pyrimidine moiety of the heterocycle. This analogue exhibits a syn glycosylic bond conformation with a chi torsion angle of 57.51 (17) degrees. The ribofuranose moiety shows an envelope C2'-endo ((2)E) sugar conformation (S-type), with P = 161.6 (2) degrees and tau(m) = 41.3 (1) degrees. The conformation at the exocyclic C4'-C5' bond is +sc (gauche, gauche), with a gamma torsion angle of 54.4 (2) degrees. The crystal packing is stabilized by intermolecular O-H...O, N-H...N and O-H...N hydrogen bonds; water molecules, located on crystallographic twofold axes, participate in interactions. An intramolecular O-H...N hydrogen bond stabilizes the syn conformation of the nucleoside.

Studies on the glycosylation of pyrrolo[2,3-d] pyrimidines with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranose: the formation of regioisomers during toyocamycin and 7-deazainosine syntheses.

Glycosylation of silylated 4-amino-6-bromo-5-cyano-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (9) with 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-beta-D-ribofuranose (10) under "one-pot" glycosylation conditions (MeCN, TMSOTf) yielded the N-7 isomer 11 together with the N-1 compound 13 (ratio = 2:1). When the same conditions were applied to 4-hydroxy-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (21) the N-3 isomer 22 was the only glycosylation product formed in almost quantitative yield.