From Peptide Nucleic Acids to Supramolecular Structures of Nucleic Acid Derivatives

Nucleic acids play a pivotal role in life processes. The endeavours to shed light on the essential properties of these intriguing building blocks led us to the synthesis of different analogues and the investigation of their properties. First various peptide nucleic acid monomers and oligomers have been synthesized, using an Fmoc/acyl protecting group strategy, and their properties studied. The serendipitous discovery of a side reaction of coupling agents led us to the elaboration of a peptide sequencing method. The capricious behaviour of guanine derivatives spurred the determination of their substitution pattern using ¹³ C, ¹⁵ N NMR, and mass spectrometric methods. The properties of guanines initiated the logical transition to the study of supramolecular systems composed of purine analogues. Thus, xanthine and uracil derivatives have been obtained and their supramolecular self-assembly properties scrutinized in gas, solid, and liquid states and at solid-liquid interfaces.

Synthesis of N-glycosides. An alternative approach based on diastereoselective base coupling and S(N)2 cyclization

[reaction: see text] Acyclic diastereoselection is achieved for the formation of thioaminyl acetals. The highly intramolecular stereocontrolled S(N)2 displacement of the thioaminyls allows for the formation of cyclic nucleoside derivatives. This versatile approach may provide easy access to a large variety of N-glycosides.

Synthesis and biological activities of new carbaacyclonucleosides and 1'-oxaacyclonucleosides related to clitocine

We describe the synthesis of two series of acyclonucleosides:carbaacyclonucleosides and 1'-oxaacyclonucleosides which possess the same aglycone as clitocine 3 which is a natural nucleoside exhibiting interesting biological properties. These compounds have been obtained by condensation of 4-aminobutanol or 3-silyloxypropoxyamine with 4,6-dichloro-5-nitropyrimidine. Structural modifications have been made on the heterocyclic base and the side chain to enhance their potential activity. All these compounds have been tested against different viruses: HIV-1, HSV-1, HSV-2, CMV, VZV, EBV. The carbaacyclonucleoside 10 was associated with an anti-EBV activity (EC50 = 0.86 microg/mL).