NEW SYNTHETIC METHOD OF 5-FORMYLURACIL-CONTAINING OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AND THEIR MELTING BEHAVIOR

A new method for the synthesis of 5-foU-containing oligonuleotides by phosphoramidite chemistry and subsequent post-oxidation with sodium pe riodate was developed. 5-(1,2-Dihydroxyethyl)uracil-containing oligome rs, which are readily converted to 5-foU-containing oligomers by sodiu m periodate oxidation, were synthesized according to the standard beta -cyanoethyl phosphoramidite chemistry. The phosphoramidite of a protec ted 5-(1,2-dihydroxyethyl)-2'-deoxyuridine derivative was prepared fro m 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine in 7 steps. UV melting behavior of these thre e oligomers demonstrated that the 5-foU-A base pair are less stable th an the T-A base pair. Copyright (C) 1996 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd