In model studies towards prodrugs of oligonucleoside phosphorothiolate
s eg., 1, the dinucleoside S-alkyl phosphorothiolates 3a-c were prepar
ed by chemoselective alkylation of d[TpsT] with the iodoalkyl acylates
8a-c. Upon incubation with serum or porcine liver esterase, stereospe
cific conversion of R(p) and S-p 3c to 2 was observed along with the d
esulfurized product 4.