Nonenzymatic template-directed reactions on altritol oligomers, preorganized analogues of oligonucleotides

Altritol nucleic acids (ANAs) are RNA analogues with a phosphorylated D-alt ritol backbone. The nucleobase is attached at the 2-(S)-position of the car bohydrate moiety. We report that ANA oligomers are superior to the correspo nding DNA, RNA, and HNA (hexitol nucleic acid) in supporting efficient none nzymatic template-directed synthesis of complementary RNAs from nucleoside- 5'-phosphoro-2-methyl imidazolides. Activated ANA and HNA monomers do not o ligomerize efficiently on DNA, RNA, HNA, or ANA templates.