Preparation and Properties of a New Type of Acyclic,Achiral Nucleoside Analogue

Abstract

Preparation of the nucleoside analogues 1 and incorporation of 1, B = T, in deoxyribooligonucleotides by the phosphoramidite method is described. A two-step deprotection procedure was developed to reduce cleavage of the modified allylic unit. The binding properties of the modified oligonucleotides towards complementary DNA and RNA has been evaluated by T_m measurements showing a ΔT_m of ?2 to ?6.5°C per modification. An oligonucleotide with two modifications at the 3′-end showed considerable resistance towards cleavage by a 3′-exonuclease. No antiviral activity against HIV-1 or HSV-1 was found for 1, B = G or T, or for any of the trihydroxy derivatives 5.