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Fluorescence and hybridization specificity is reported for intercalating nucleic acids (INAs), which are here oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) synthesized with insertions using (S)-1-[bis(4-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl)methoxy]-3-[(pyren-1-yl)methoxy]propan-2-ol phosphoramidites. It is shown that an INA with two insertions placed as next-nearest neighbors can be used for discrimination between nucleic acids and their single-point mutants. Quenching of an excimer band at 480 nm is observed upon hybridizing to a complementary sequence, whereas the excimer band is present when the nucleobase pair between the two pyrene moieties is mismatched. It is the first example of a solution based on fluorescence detection of single-point mutants that uses excimer formation and does not rely on stringent hybridization conditions. Furthermore, it is shown that INAs with pyrene insertions retain their sequence specificity in thermal melting.

alpha-Aminoketone hydrochlorides 2a-d were synthesized by Dakin-West reaction from L-phenylalanine and L-cyclohexylalanine followed by hydrolysis in acidic medium. Treatment of 2a-d with aqueous potassium thiocyanate afforded 1, 3-imidazole-2-thiones 3a-d which were alkylated with methyl iodide to give 2-methylsulfanyl-1H-imidazoles 4a-d with 4-benzyl/4-cyclohexylmethyl and 5-ethyl/5-isopropyl substituents. Coupling of 4a-d with ethoxymethyl chloride or benzyloxymethyl chloride furnished N-1 5a-d and N-3 6a-h alkylated products. The synthesised compounds were tested for their activity against HIV-1. The most active compounds have a cyclohexylmethyl group in the 5-position of 6 and showed an activity against HIV-1 comparable to the activity of Nevirapine.

HRAS is regulated by two neighbouring quadruplex-forming GC-elements (hras-1 and hras-2), located upstream of the major transcription start sites (doi: 10.1093/nar/gku 5784). In this study we demonstrate that the C-rich strands of hras-1 and hras-2 fold into i-motif conformations (iMs) characterized under crowding conditions (PEG-300, 40% w/v) by semi-transitions at pH 6.3 and 6.7, respectively. Nondenaturing PAGE shows that the HRAS C-rich sequences migrate at both pH 5 and 7 as folded intramolecular structures. Chromatin immunoprecipitation shows that hnRNP A1 is associated under in vivo conditions to the GC-elements, while EMSA proves that hnRNP A1 binds tightly to the iMs. FRET and CD show that hnRNP A1 unfolds the iM structures upon binding. Furthermore, when hnRNP A1 is knocked out in T24 bladder cancer cells by a specific shRNA, the HRAS transcript level drops to 44 ± 5% of the control, suggesting that hnRNP A1 is necessary for gene activation. The sequestration by decoy oligonucleotides of the proteins (hnRNP A1 and others) binding to the HRAS iMs causes a significant inhibition of HRAS transcription. All these outcomes suggest that HRAS is regulated by a G-quadruplex/i-motif switch interacting with proteins that recognize non B-DNA conformations.

In a previous study we have demonstrated that two neighboring G-quadruplexes, hras-1 and hras-2, located immediately upstream of the major transcription start site of HRAS, bind MAZ, a nuclear factor that activates transcription (Cogoi, S.; et al. Nucl. Acid Res. 2014, 42, 8379). For the present study we have designed G4 oligonucleotides with anthraquinone insertions and locked nucleic acids (LNA) modifications mimicking quadruplex hras-1. Luciferase, qRT-PCR, and Western blot data demonstrate that these constructs efficiently down regulate HRAS in T24 bladder cancer cells. The inhibitory efficiency of the G4 oligonucleotides correlates with their nuclease resistance in the cell environment. By chromatin immunoprecipitation we show that the association of MAZ to the HRAS promoter is strongly attenuated by the designed G4 oligonucleotides, thus suggesting that these constructs behave with a decoy mechanism.

Thymidine dimers in which the natural phosphodiester linkage has been replaced by a 2,5-disubstituted tetrazole ring are synthesized and incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). The synthesis is accomplished by two strategies based on an alkylation of 5′-O-trityl-on and 5′-O-trityl-off 3′-deoxy-3′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)thymidines with 5′-iodo-5′-deoxythymidine in the presence of Et3N, and the formation of only 2-substituted tetrazol-5-yl linkages is observed in 89 and 46% yields, respectively. The nucleoside dimer formed is reacted with 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride (DMTCl), followed by treatment with 2-cyanoethyl tetraisopropylphosphordiamidite in the presence of N,N-diisopropylammonium tetrazolide, to afford the 5′-O-DMT-protected dinucleoside phosphoramidite that is used for incorporation into ODNs on an automated DNA synthesizer. The modified ODNs with one and up to five tetrazole internucleosidic linkages are obtained in good yields. The thermal stability of DNA/DNA and DNA/RNA duplexes is studied by UV experiments and reported also.

Novel analogues of MKC442 (6-benzyl-1-(ethoxymethyl)-5-isopropylpyrimidine- 2,4(1H,3H)-dione) were synthesized by reaction of 6-[(3,5-dimethylphenyl) fluoromethyl]-5-ethyluracil (5) with ethoxymethyl chloride and formaldehyde acetals. The Sonogashira reaction was carried out on the N1-(p-iodobenzyl)oxy] methyl derivative of compound 5 using propagyl alcohol to afford compound 12 (YML220). The latter compound was selected for further studies since it showed the most potent and selective activity in vitro against wild-type HIV-1 and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-, and protease inhibitor-resistant mutants and a wide range of HIV-1 clinical isolates. 12 also showed microbicidal activity in long-term assays with heavily infected MT-4 cells.

Pyrimidine 1′-aza-C-nucleosides are synthesised by the fusion of 5-bromouracil, 5-bromocytosine and 5-bromoisocytosine with (3R,4R)-4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol in 40–41% yield. A homologue of 1′-aza-Ψ-uridine is obtained in a Mannich reaction in 65% yield by treatment of the azasugar, paraformaldehyde and uracil. N-Alkylation of (3R,4R)-4-(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol with 6-chloromethyluracil gives the 6-regioisomeric homologue. (3R,4R)-4-(Hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidin-3-ol is synthesised in 25% overall yield from diacetone- d -glucose via 3-C-(azidomethyl)-3-deoxy- d -allose which is subjected to an intramolecular reductive amino alkylation reaction to give (3R,4S)-4-[(1S,2R)-1,2,3-trihydroxypropyl]pyrrolidin-3-ol followed by Fmoc protection, oxidative cleavage of the triol group with further reduction of the obtained aldehyde and subsequent deprotection of the nitrogen atom.

Deprotected compounds 1 and 9 were allowed to react with 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl chloride in pyridine to give 5'-O-DMT nucleosides 2 and 10. The 3'-phosphoramidites 4 and 11 were incorporated into oligodeoxynucleosides (ODNs). The hybridization properties of the modified ODNs with their complementary DNA strands were studied. Interesting results were obtained when 11 was inserted as a bulged nucleoside into TWAs, duplexes, and triplexes.

Condensation of ethyl 3-phenyl-2-oxocyclopentanecarboxylate 5 with 2-(S-methylthio)isourea followed by hydrolysis with HCl gave 6,7-dihydro-7-phenylcyclopenta[e][1,3]oxazine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione (10a). 7,8-Dihydro-8-phenyl-6H-cyclohexa[e][1,3]oxazine-2,4(3H,5H)-dione (10b) was synthesised by reacting 2-phenylcyclohexanone (9b) with N-(chlorocarbonyl) isocyanate. The oxazines 10a,b were reacted with ammonia to obtain the corresponding uracil derivatives 12a,b which after silylation were alkylated with diethoxymethane using trimethylsilyl triflate (TMS-triflate) as the catalyst or alkylated with chloromethyl ethyl ether to give annelated MKC-442 analogues 2,3 which are locked in a conformation close to the one of MKC-442. In spite of this, only moderate activities were found against HIV-1 for the annelated analogues of MKC-442.

Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are promising drugs for the treatment of HIV when used in combination with other anti-HIV drugs such as nucleoside reverse transcriptase (RT) inhibitors and protease inhibitors. The first generation of NNRTIs have, however, suffered from the rapid development of resistance. This review discusses the properties of the FDA-approved NNRTI drugs and focuses on the recent efforts being made to produce second generation inhibitors that circumvent this resistance problem.

New S-DABOs with a long alkylating S-alkyl substituent showing antiretroviral activity against HIV-1 in the micromolar range were prepared from 5,6-disubstituted 4-oxo-2-thiopyrimidines and 1,7-dibromo-3,5-dioxaheptane. The analogues with an ethyl group in position 5 also showed activity in the micromolar range against a Tyr/8/Cys mutant strain of HIV-1. The S-DABO analogues showing activity against the HIV-1 RT mutant strain were transformed to the N-3 and N-1 ring closed 7-oxo-pyrimidino-1,3,5-oxathiazepines which surprisingly all showed activity against HIV-1 in the micromolar range, as well as against a Tyr/8/Cys mutant strain of HIV-1. Some analogues of S-DABO with a thien-2-ylmethyl residue in position 6 were synthesized and tested against HIV-1 wild type, but they showed less or comparable activities to those of the corresponding 6-benzyl analogues.

Ethoxymethylenemalononitrile and bis(methylthio)methylenemalononitrile were condensed with hydrazine hydrate to yield 5-aminopyrazole-4-carbonitrile (3a) and 5-amino-3-methylthiopyrazole-4-carbonitrile (3b), respectively. These compounds were treated with nitrous acid and coupled with different secondary amines to yield the triazenopyrazoles 4a–j. 5-(3,3-Diethyl-1-triazeno)pyrazole-4-carbonitrile (4c) was transferred into its two regioisomeric 2-deoxyribose nucleosides 5a,b which were subsequently hydrolyzed with H2O2/OH− to give the corresponding carboxamides 6a,b. All synthesized compounds were tested for biological activity against HIV-1 and herpes simplex virus, but only 4c showed moderate activity against HIV-1 with ED 50=32μM.

Reaction of methyl 5-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-iodo-D-threo-pentofuranoside (3) with silylated 5-alkoxymethyluracils 2a–c using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a catalyst afforded the α nucleosides 4a–c and the β nucleosides 5a–c. The corresponding 3′,4′- and 4′,5′-didehydro nucleosides 6–9 were prepared in an elimination reaction by treating the iodo nucleosides 4a–c or 5a–c with 10 equivalents of sodium methoxide in methanol under reflux. The deprotected 3′-azido nucleosides 10a–c and 11a–c of the AZT type as well as the 4′,5′-didehydro nucleosides 7a–c and 9a–c were prepared by treating 4a–c and 5a–c, respectively, with sodium azide and subsequently with tetrabutylammonium fluoride.

1,8-Diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene salts of 2-methyl-4(5)-nitroimidazole or benzotriazole were obtained in crystalline form. Michael-type addition of these salts to (4S,5R)-(E)-4,6-di-O-acetyl-5-hydroxy-2-hexenal gave, after acetylation of the product, an isomeric mixture of acetylated 3-(azol-1-yl)-2,3-dideoxy-D-arabino-hexopyranosides and 3-(azol-1-yl)-2,3-dideoxy-D-ribo-hexofuranosides. Reaction of these peracetylated adducts with trimethylsilylated thymine in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMS triflate) afforded the corresponding nucleosides which were deprotected by using methanolic ammonia. The nucleosides were found inactive against HIV-1 and HSV-1.

A series of thalidomide and phthalimide ester analogs were efficiently synthesized from N-chloromethylthalidomide, N-chloromethylphthalimide, and N-(2-bromoethyl)phthalimide derivatives with various biologically important carboxylic acids. The synthesized compounds were purified and characterized by various chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. The antitumor activity of all the synthesized compounds was screened against human liver and breast cancer cells, which showed that phthalimide ester 6a was the best cytotoxic compound against MCF7 cells, while all of the tested compounds showed a non-cytotoxic effect against HepG2 cells. Compounds 5a, 6a, and 7a possess immunosuppressant effect, while compounds 5c, 5d, 6c, 6d, 7c, and 7d showed an immunostimmulatory effect. Meanwhile, estimation of the binding affinity for all the synthesized compounds toward the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) showed that compounds 5a, 5b, and 7d were the most potent inhibitors.

The synthesis of two new phosphoramidite building blocks for the incorporation of 5-(pyren-1-yl)uracilyl unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) monomers into oligonucleotides has been developed. Monomers containing a pyrene-modified nucleobase component were found to destabilize an i-motif structure at pH 5.2, both under molecular crowding and noncrowding conditions. The presence of the pyrene-modified UNA monomers in DNA strands led to decreases in the thermal stabilities of DNA*/DNA and DNA*/RNA duplexes, but these duplexes' thermal stabilities were better than those of duplexes containing unmodified UNA monomers. Pyrene-modified UNA monomers incorporated in bulges were able to stabilize DNA*/DNA duplexes due to intercalation of the pyrene moiety into the duplexes. Steady-state fluorescence emission studies of oligonucleotides containing pyrene-modified UNA monomers revealed decreases in fluorescence intensities upon hybridization to DNA or RNA. Efficient quenching of fluorescence of pyrene-modified UNA monomers was observed after formation of i-motif structures at pH 5.2. The stabilizing/destabilizing effect of pyrene-modified nucleic acids might be useful for designing antisense oligonucleotides and hybridization probes.

The thiazole orange dye 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diazaundecamethylene)-bis[4-[3-methy l-2, 3-dihydro(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene]]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTO) binds to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in a sequence selective bisintercalation. Each chromophore is sandwiched between two base pairs in a (5'-CpT-3'):(5'-ApG-3') site, and the linker spans over two base pairs in the minor groove. The binding of analogs of TOTO in which the linker has been modified is examined. The aim of the study is to utilize the sequence selectivity of the TOTO chromophores to enhance and/or alter the overall selectivity of the binding. One- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR investigations of complexes between TOTO analogs and various dsDNA oligonucleotides are reported. The following analogs were synthesized and used: 1,1'-(4,4,8,8-tetramethyl-4,8-diazadodecamethylene) -bis[4-[3-methyl-2,3-dihydro- (benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene]]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTO10), 1,1'-(5,5,9,9-tetramethyl-5,9-diazatridecamethylene)-bis[4-[3-meth yl-2, 3-dihydro(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene]]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTO11), and 1,1'-(6,6,10,10-tetramethyl-6,10-diazapentadecamethylene)-bis[4-[3 -methyl-2, 3-dihydro(benzo-1,3-thiazole)-2-methylidene]]quinolinium tetraiodide (TOTO13). The results show that with a longer linker the dyes can bisintercalate into two (5'-CpT-3'):(5'-ApG-3') sites separated by one or two base pairs. Bisintercalation in two such "isolated" binding sites yields non-nearest-neighbor bisintercalation in which the linker spans over more than two base pairs. The investigations also showed that an exact length of the linker is not crucial for the site selectivity since TOTO, TOTO10, and TOTO11 are almost equally suitable in binding selectively to the (5'CTAG-3')2 sequence. Fluorescence measurements show that TOTO10, TOTO11, and TOTO13 have higher fluorescence quantum yields than TOTO when bound to d(CGCTAGCG)2. This indicates that the length of the linker in TOTO may not be the optimum one in terms of using the dye as a fluorescence marker.

The circumventricular organs (CVOs) in the brain are without a blood-brain barrier (BBB) and as such directly exposed to blood plasma constituents and blood-borne pathogens. In light of previous studies showing discrepancies regarding the immunocompetence of these organs, we initiated the present study to provide a comprehensive immunohistochemical analysis of the cellular expression of immune-associated antigens within the pineal gland, area postrema and the subfornical organ. In all CVOs, subpopulations of cells morphologically similar to complement receptor type 3 immunoreactive microglial/macrophage cells expressed major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen, leucocyte common antigen (LCA/CD45), as well as CD4 and ED1 antigen. Based on morphological criteria the MHC class II antigen expressing cells could be grouped into a major population of classical parenchymal and perivascular ramified microglial cells and a minor population presenting itself as scattered or small groups of rounded macrophage-like cells. CD4 and ED1 antigen were expressed by both cell types. CD45 was preferentially expressed by macrophage-like cells. MHC class I antigen was expressed by the vascular endothelium in both BBB-protected and BBB-deficient areas and was additionally present as a lattice-like network throughout the BBB-deficient parenchyma in all CVOs. The results suggest that the BBB-free areas of the brain besides being constantly surveyed by blood-borne macrophages, possess an intrinsic immune surveillance system based on resting and activated microglial cells, which may function as a non-endothelial, cellular barrier against blood-borne pathogens.

Recently, we reported protection of intracerebral mouse to rat hippocampal xenografts upon treatment with a combination of cyclosporin A, prednisolone and azathioprine. These findings are now supported in an extended analysis of graft-infiltrating cells. Host T-cell and macrophage infiltration and the immunocytochemical level of cellular expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens, measured by densitometric analysis, were compared between recipient rats receiving cyclosporin A alone or cyclosporin A in combination with prednisolone and azathioprine. The combination therapy resulted in a much improved survival of the xenografted hippocampal tissue with preservation of organotypic granule and pyramidal cell layers. Graft infiltration by T-cells and macrophages was significantly lower, and the level of major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigen expression by the infiltrating cells markedly reduced. Lower expression of donor-type major histocompatibility complex class I antigen was also found in the xenografts in the trimedicated recipients, together with reduced blood–brain barrier leakage and astrogliosis at the host–graft interface. The results demonstrate the benefits of using combined immunosuppressive strategies for protection of histoincompatible brain xenografts in the central nervous system.

5′- O -(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)-5-methyl- N 4 -(1-pyrenylmethyl)cytidine( 5 ) was prepared by reaction of 1-pyrenylmethylamine with an appropriate protected 4-(1,2,4-triazolyl)thymidine derivative which was synthesized from 5- O -DMT protected thymidine by acetylation with acetic anhydride and subsequent reaction with triethylamine, 1,2,4-triazole and POCl 3 . Stabilities are reported for DNA duplexes, three-way junctions and triplexes when 5 is inserted. Most interestingly, the three-way junctions are stabilized when 5 is used for insertion into the junction region. This break-through for recognizing the foot of a stem could have far-reaching importance because new targets for antisense oligos is now rendered possible on intact secondary structures.

Methyl 2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-5-O-(4-phenylbenzoyl)-β-D-erythro-pentofuranoside (3) as well as 1,5-di-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-phthalimodo-β-D-erythro-pentofuranose (12) were condensed with silylated 2-methylthiopyridin-4(1H)-ones2a, b in the presence of trimethylsilyl triflate as a catalyst to produce the corresponding nucleosides5, 6, 13. In these reactions, an endocyclic cleavage of C-O in3 took place; therefore, acyclic nucleosides4a, b were also formed. All 3′-fluoro nucleosides were deprotected with NH3/MeOH; the 3′-phthalimido nucleosides were deprotected with methylamine in ethanol. The latter method resulted in a concomitant substitution reaction in the pyrimidine moiety with replacement of the methylthio group. The 2-methylthio analogue of 3′-deoxy-3′-fluorothylmidine showed moderate activity against HIV-1.

3'-Azido-2',3'-dideoxyuridines 6 and their corresponding alpha anomers 5 were synthesized by condensation of silylated 6-alkyl and 5,6-dialkyl substituted uracils 2 with methyl 3-azido-5-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,3-dideoxy-alpha, beta-D-erythro-pentofuranoside (4). Compounds 5 and 6 were treated with tetrabutylammonium fluoride to obtain the deprotected nucleosides 7 and 8, respectively.

KRAS mutations are primary genetic lesions leading to pancreatic cancer. The promoter of human KRAS contains a nuclease-hypersensitive element (NHE) that can fold in G4-DNA structures binding to nuclear proteins, including MAZ (myc-associated zinc-finger). Here, we report that MAZ activates KRAS transcription. To knockdown oncogenic KRAS in pancreatic cancer cells, we designed oligonucleotides that mimic one of the G-quadruplexes formed by NHE (G4-decoys). To increase their nuclease resistance, two locked nucleic acid (LNA) modifications were introduced at the 3'-end, whereas to enhance the folding and stability, two polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon units (TINA or AMANY) were inserted internally, to cap the quadruplex. The most active G4-decoy (2998), which had two para-TINAs, strongly suppressed KRAS expression in Panc-1 cells. It also repressed their metabolic activity (IC50 = 520 nM), and it inhibited cell growth and colony formation by activating apoptosis. We finally injected 2998 and control oligonucleotides 5153, 5154 (2 nmol/mouse) intratumorally in SCID mice bearing a Panc-1 xenograft. After three treatments, 2998 reduced tumor xenograft growth by 64% compared with control and increased the Kaplan-Meier median survival time by 70%. Together, our data show that MAZ-specific G4-decoys mimicking a KRAS quadruplex are promising for pancreatic cancer therapy.

A new intercalating nucleic acid monomer X was obtained in high yield starting from alkylation of 4-iodophenol with (S)-(+)-2-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)ethanol under Mitsunobu conditions followed by hydrolysis with 80% aqueous acetic acid to give a diol which was coupled under Sonogashira conditions with trimethylsilylacetylene (TMSA) to achieve the TMS protected (S)-4-(4-((trimethylsilyl)ethynyl)phenoxy)butane-1,2-diol. Tetrabutylammonium flouride was used to remove the silyl protecting group to obtain (S)-4-(4-ethynylphenoxy)butane-1,2-diol which was coupled under Sonogashira conditions with 2-(9-bromo-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalin-6-yl)-N,N-dimethylethanamine to achieve (S)-4-(4-((6-(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl)-6H-indolo[2,3-b]quinoxalin-9-yl)ethynyl)phenoxy)butane-1,2-diol. This compound was tritylated with 4,4'-dimethoxytrityl chloride followed by treatment with 2-cyanoethyltetraisopropylphosphordiamidite in the presence of N,N'-diisopropyl ammonium tetrazolide to afford the corresponding phosphoramidite. This phosphoramidite was used to insert the monomer X into an oligonucleotide which was used for thermal denaturation studies of a corresponding parallel triplex.

A UBr∗UBr dimer was synthesized by connecting the appropiate nucleoside monomers through a 5-atom carboxamide linkage. The dimer was incorporated in oligodeoxynucleotides and investigated for hybridization properties toward single and double stranded DNA.

3-Aryl-7-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-3,7-dihydro-4H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]-pyrimidin-4-imines (4) as well as 4-arylamino-7-(2-deoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-2-methyl-5-phenyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines (7) have been synthesized by glycosylation of the sodium salt of the corresponding nucleobases with 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-p-toluyl-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl chloride (2) followed by subsequent deprotection with sodium methoxide in methanol. The deprotected nucleoside4 undergoes aDimroth rearrangement on reflux for 24 h in water to furnish the 4-arylamino nucleoside7.

A T∗T dimer with ∗ representing a 2′-OCH2CH2NHC(O)-4′ linkage connecting two nucleoside units was prepared by condensation of (S)-1-[2-(2-aminoethoxy)-3-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityloxy)propyl]thymine with 1,2-dideoxy-1-thyminyl-β-D-erythro-pento-furanuronic acid. The T∗T dimer was incorporated in oligodeoxynucleotides and investigated for hybridization to DNA.

Two carboxamide linked dimers were synthesized by condensation of the appropiate a nucleosides with a thymidine-5′-carboxylic acid and incorporated in oligodeoxynucleotides. The oligodeoxynucleotides were investigated for hybridization to single and double stranded DNA.

Quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 4 were silylated and condensed with methyl 5-azido-2,5-dideoxy-3-O-(4-methylbenzoyl)-α,β-D-erythro-pentofuranoside (3) using trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMS triflate) as the catalyst to afford the corresponding 5′-azidonucleosides 5. 1-(5-Azido-2,5-dideoxy-α-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones 6 and the corresponding β anomers were obtained by treating 5 with sodium methoxide in methanol at room temperature. 6-Methyl-1-(5-amino-2,5-dideoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)quinazoline-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (8) was obtained by treatment of the corresponding azido derivative 7 with triphenylphosphine in pyridine, followed by hydrolysis with ammonium hydroxide.

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (4) was silylated and condensed with methyl 5-azido-2,5-dideoxy-3-O-(4-methylbenzoyl)-D-erythro-pentofuranoside (2) in the presence ofTMS triflate to afford the corresponding protected nucleoside6 and acyclic nucleoside7. Deprotection of6 with MeONa/MeOH at room temperature gave 1-(5-azido-2,5-dideoxy-α-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (8) and the corresponding β anomer9, whereas compound7 yielded 5-azido-2,5-dideoxy-1-(2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-1-yl)-1-O-methyl-D-erythro-pentitol (10) under the same reaction conditions. 1-(5-Amino-2,5-dideoxy-β-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (11) was obtained on treating9 with Ph3P in pyridine followed by hyrolysis with NH4OH. The anomeric nucleosides14 and15 and the corresponding acyclic nucleoside16 were obtained when4 was trimethylsilylated and condensed with methyl 2-deoxy-3,5-di-O-(4-methylbenzoyl)-D-erythro-pentofuranoside (3) followed by deprotection with MeONa in MeOH. Compounds8 and9 were also obtained when the anomeric mixture14/15 was treated with a mixture of NaN3, Ph3P, and CBr4 in dryDMF at room temperature.

Oligodeoxynucleotides modified with carboxamide linked dimeric nuclcotides and an acyclic nucleoside were prepared and investigated for their hybridization properties toward DNA.

2-O-Ethyluracil and 2-O-ethylthymine were silylated with 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexamethyldisilazane and condensed in the presence ofTMS triflate with 2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-D-erythro-pentofuranoside, 3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-D-erythro-pentofuranoside, and 2,3-dideoxy-3-phthalimido-β-D-erythro-pentofuranose derivatives to give the corresponding 2-O-ethyl nucleosides. Deprotection with saturated methanolic ammonia afforded the 2′,3′-dideoxy-3′-fluoro-2-O-ethyluridines, whereas 3′-azido-2′,3′-dideoxy-3-O-ethyluridine was obtained by deprotection with tetrabutylammonium fluoride in tetrahydrofuran. 3′-Amino-2′,3′-dideoxy-3-O-ethyluridine could be obtained only by treatment of the corresponding 3′-azido nucleoside with triphenylphosphine in pyridine. 3′-Deoxy-2-O-ethyl-3′-fluorothymidine (6b) showed moderate activity against HIV-1.