8-AZA-7-DEAZAADENINE AND 7-DEAZAGUANINE: SYNTHESIS AND PROPERTIES OF NUCLEOSIDES AND OLIGONUCLEOTIDES WITH NUCLEOBASES LINKED AT POSITION-8

The 8-aza-7-deazaadenine (pyrazolo3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-amine) N⁸-(2′-deoxy-ribonucleoside) (2) and the 7-deazaguanine (pyrrolo3,4-d]pyrimidine-2-amin-(3H)-4-one) C⁸-(2′-deoxyribonucleoside) (4) were synthesized and incorporated in oligonucleotides employing phosphoramidite chemistry. Oligonucleotides carrying compound 2 are able to form base pairs with the four canonical DNA constituents without significant structural discrimination. The nucleoside 4 was obtained from the corresponding ribonucleoside by deoxygenation. Oligonucleotides containing compound 4 showed similar base pairing properties as those with 2′-deoxyisoguanosine.