Synthesis and ESR studies of 2'-deoxyuridines tethered with alkynyl, rod-like linkages

Publication Date

8-3-2009

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Sonogashira coupling of diacetyl 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine with diacetyl 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine gave the acylated ethynediyl-linked 2'-deoxyuridine dimer (3b) (63%) that was deprotected with ammonia/methanol to ethynediyl-linked 2'-deoxyuridines (3a) (79%). Reaction of 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (1a) with 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine gave the furopyrimidine linked to 2'-deoxyuridine (78%). Catalytic oxidative coupling of 1a (O2, CuI, Pd/C, DMF) gave the butadiynediyl-linked 2'-deoxyuridines (4) (84%). Double Sonogashira coupling of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine with 1,4-bis(ethynyl)benzene gave 1,4-phenylenediethyne-bridged 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridines (5, 83%). Cu-catalyzed cycloisomerization of dimers 4 and 5 gave their furopyrimidine derivatives. One electron addition to 1a, 3a and 4 gave the anion radical whose ESR spectra showed the unpaired electron largely localized at C6 of one uracil ring (17 G doublet) at 77 K. For the ethynediyl- and butadiynyl-linked uridines 3a and 4 the ESR spectra of their one electron oxidized species at 77 K showed that the unpaired electron is delocalized over both rings. Thus structures 3a and 4 provide an efficient electronic link for hole conduction between the uracil rings. However, for the excess electron, an activation barrier prevents coupling to both rings. These dimeric structures could provide a gate that could separate hole transfer from electron transport between strands in DNA systems. In the crystal structure of acylated dimer 3b the bases were found in the anti position to each other across the ethynyl link. Similar anti conformation was preserved in the derived furopyrimidine–deoxyuridine dinucleoside.

Publication Title

Chemistry

Volume

15

Issue

31

First Page

7569

Last Page

7577

DOI

10.1002/chem.200900481

Publisher Policy

open access

Link to Full Text

Find in your library

Share

COinS