Abstract: | A synthetic strategy for branched ribonucleotides, which have recently been discovered, was described. A fully protected adenosine unit (5) having the tris (4,5-dichlorophthalimido)trityl (CPTr), bis(anilino)phosphoryl (BAP), and bis(phenylthio)phosphoryl (BPTP) groups as the 5'-, 2'-, and 3'-hydroxyl protecting groups, respectively, was synthesized from adenosine by a five-step reaction involving a new method for the 2'-O-phosphorylation by the use of hexaethylphosphorous triamide. The selective deprotection of appropriate protecting groups from 5 followed by stepwise condensation with two different ribonucleoside derivatives (7 and 10) gave a protected branched ribonucleotide (11) via a 3'-phosphorylated 2'-5' dinucleotide (8). Deprotection of 11 and 8 gave a branched trinucleotide (12) and 3'-phosphorylated dinucleotide (13). |