Synthesis of novel 3'-C-methylene thymidine and 5-methyluridine/cytidine H-phosphonates and phosphonamidites for new backbone modification of oligonucleotides

J Org Chem. 2001 Apr 20;66(8):2789-801. doi: 10.1021/jo001699u.

Abstract

Novel 5'-O-DMT- and MMT-protected 3'-C-methylene-modified thymidine, 5-methyluridine, and 5-methylcytidine H-phosphonates 1-7 with O-methyl, fluoro, hydrogen, and O-(2-methoxyethyl) substituents at the 2'-position have been synthesized by a new effective strategy from the corresponding key intermediates 3'-C-iodomethyl nucleosides and intermediate BTSP, prepared in situ through the Arbuzov reaction. The modified reaction conditions for the Arbuzov reaction prevented the loss of DMT- and MMT-protecting groups, and directly provided the desired 5'-O-DMT- and/or MMT-protected 3'-C-methylene-modified H-phosphonates 1-6 although some of them were also prepared through the manipulation of protecting groups after the P-C bond formation. The modified Arbuzov reaction of 3'-C-iodomethyl-5-methylcytidine 53, prepared from its 5-methyluridine derivative 42, with BTSP provided the 5-methylcytidine H-phosphonate 54, which was further transferred to the corresponding 4-N-(N-methylpyrrolidin-2-ylidene)-protected H-phosphonate monomer 7. 5'-O-MMT-protected 3'-C-methylene-modified H-phosphonates 5, 3, and 7 were converted to the corresponding cyanoethyl H-phosphonates 50, 51, and 56 using DCC as a coupling reagent. One-pot three-step reactions of 50, 51, and 56 provided the desired 3'-C-methylene-modified phosphonamidite monomers 8-10. Some of these new 3'-methylene-modified monomers 1-10 have been successfully utilized for the synthesis of 3'-methylene-modified oligonucleotides, which have shown superior antisense properties including nuclease resistance and binding affinity to the target RNA.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Cytidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cytidine / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligonucleotides / chemical synthesis*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / chemical synthesis
  • Organophosphonates
  • Thymidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Thymidine / chemical synthesis*
  • Uridine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Uridine / chemical synthesis

Substances

  • 3'-C-methylene thymidine
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Oligonucleotides
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Organophosphonates
  • ribothymidine
  • Cytidine
  • 5-methylcytidine
  • Thymidine
  • Uridine