Janus-AT bases: synthesis, self-assembly, and solid state structures

J Org Chem. 2007 Jan 19;72(2):466-75. doi: 10.1021/jo061840k.

Abstract

The high yielding synthesis of heterocycles with defined H-bond accepting and donating capabilities provides for the design of self-assembling structures and specific recognition of biological targets. Herein we report the syntheses and solid-state structures of three self-complementary uracil/thymine derivatives where each presents the standard ADA face inherently complementary to adenine and a synthetically appended DAD face complementary to uracil/thymine. These heterocycles, which have never before been reported or characterized, represent diaminopurine-uracil/thymine hybrids that, in two of the three cases, relate to previously reported heterocyclic hybrids of G and C. All three heterocycles crystallized to afford the first X-ray crystal structures of self-complementary heterocycles capable of ADA-DAD pairing. The potential use in DNA and RNA recognition are briefly discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry*
  • Combinatorial Chemistry Techniques / methods*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Hydrogen Bonding
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Thymine / analogs & derivatives
  • Thymine / chemical synthesis*
  • Thymine / chemistry
  • Uracil / analogs & derivatives
  • Uracil / chemical synthesis*
  • Uracil / chemistry

Substances

  • Uracil
  • Adenine
  • Thymine