Preparation, hydrolysis and intramolecular transesterification of 3'-deoxy-3'-thioinosine 3'-S-dimethylphosphorothiolate.

The hydrolytic reactions of the dimethyl ester of 3'-deoxy-3'-thioinosine 3'-S-phosphorothiolate have been followed over a wide aciditiy range by HPLC. At pH > 3, only hydroxide ion catalyzed isomerization to the 2'-dimethylphosphate takes place, whereas under more acidic conditions hydrolysis to the 2'-monomethylphosphate and 3'-S-monomethylphosphorothiolate competes. The latter is the only product accumulating in very acidic solutions (1 M hydrochloric acid). Mechanisms of the reactions are discussed.