Analogues of Acyclic Nucleosides Derived from Tris-(Hydroxymethyl)Phosphine Oxide or Bis-(Hydroxymethyl)Phosphinic Acid Coupled to DNA Nucleobases

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Acyclic Nucleosides and Their Therapeutic Applications

DNA is commonly known as the "molecule of life" because it holds the genetic instructions for all living organisms on Earth. The utilization of modified nucleosides holds the potential to transform the management of a wide range of human illnesses. Modified nucleosides and their role directly led to the 2023 Nobel prize. Acyclic nucleosides, due to their distinctive physiochemical and biological characteristics, rank among the most adaptable modified nucleosides in the field of medicinal chemistry. Acyclic nucleosides are more resistant to chemical and biological deterioration, and their adaptable acyclic structure makes it possible for them to interact with various enzymes. A phosphonate group, which is linked via an aliphatic functionality to a purine or a pyrimidine base, distinguishes acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs) from other nucleotide analogs. Acyclic nucleosides and their derivatives have demonstrated various biological activities such as anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, anti-microbial, etc. Ganciclovir, Famciclovir, and Penciclovir are the acyclic nucleoside-based drugs approved by FDA for the treatment of various diseases. Thus, acyclic nucleosides are extremely useful for generating a variety of unique bioactive chemicals. Their biological activities as well as selectivity is significantly influenced by the stereochemistry of the acyclic nucleosides because chiral acyclic nucleosides have drawn a lot of interest due to their intriguing biological functions and potential as medicines. For example, tenofovir's (R) enantiomer is roughly 50 times more potent against HIV than its (S) counterpart. We can confidently state, "The most promising developments are yet to come in the realm of acyclic nucleosides!" Herein, we have covered the most current developments in the field of chemical synthesis and therapeutic applications of acyclic nucleosides based upon our continued interest and activity in this field since mid-1990's.

Organophosphorus chemistry based on elemental phosphorus: advances and horizons

The results of studies on the application of elemental phosphorus for the synthesis of important organophosphorus compounds are surveyed and summarized. Currently, this trend represents a synthetically, environmentally and technologically attractive alternative to classical organophosphorus chemistry based on toxic and corrosive phosphorus chlorides. Direct phosphination and phosphinylation of organic compounds with elemental phosphorus (discussed in the first part of the review) basically extend the range of available phosphines, phosphine chalcogenides and phosphinic acids and provides further development of their synthetic potential (discussed in the second part of the review). It is shown that the breakthrough in this area is largely due to the discovery of reactions of elemental phosphorus (white and red) with various electrophiles in superbasic suspensions and emulsions derived from alkali metal hydroxides and to the development of electrochemical, electrocatalytic and catalytic activation of white phosphorus.

The bibliography includes 299 references.

Acyclic analogs of nucleosides based on tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine oxide: synthesis and incorporation into short DNA oligomers

Tris-(hydroxymethyl)phosphine oxide (THPO) to a certain extent resembles a part of 2′-deoxyribofuranose, although it exists in an acyclic form only and the oxygen atom at the THPO phosphorus center provides additional hydration site or acceptor of hydrogen bonds. After proper protection of hydroxyl groups, THPO was functionalized with nucleobases and converted into phosphoramidite monomers suitable for incorporation into growing oligonucleotide chains within the solid phase synthesis protocol. The resultant THPO-DNA analogs show reduced affinity to complementary DNA strands, and are resistant towards snake venom and calf spleen exonucleases.

Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-1'-homo-N-nucleosides with anti-influenza activity by catalytic methyltrioxorhenium (MTO)/H2O2 oxyfunctionalization

This paper describes a new route for the synthesis of 1'-homo-N-nucleoside derivatives by means of either methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) or supported MTO catalysts, with H(2)O(2) as the primary oxidant. Under these selective conditions, the oxyfunctionalization of the heterocyclic ring and the N heteroatom oxidation were operative processes, regardless of the type of substrate used, that is, purine or pyrimidine derivatives. In addition, the oxidation of 1'-homo-N-thionucleosides, showed the occurrence of site-specific oxidative nucleophilic substitutions of the heterocyclic ring. The MTO/H(2)O(2) system showed, in general, high reactivity under both homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions, affording the final products with high conversion values of substrates and from medium to high yields. Many of the novel 1'-homo-N-nucleoside analogues were active against the influenza A virus, without any cytotoxic effects, retaining their activity in both protected and unprotected forms.