Synthesis and separation of diastereomers of O-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-3′,5′-dinucleoside phosphates

The synthesis, diastereomeric separation, and characterization are described for a series of novel O-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-3′,5′-dinucleoside phosphates, required for incorporation into antisense probes in the magnetic resonance imaging investigation of biodistribution. Preliminary assignment of the absolute configuration of the Rp and Sp diastereomers is made on the basis of 31 P NMR spectra.