Synthesis of 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine and 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine and their incorporation into oligomeric DNA.

Reliable methods have been developed for the synthesis of the 3'-O-[(diisopropylamino) (2-cyanoethoxy)phosphino]-5'-O-(4,4'- dimethoxytrityl) derivatives of 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanosine (8-oxo-dGuo, 1) and 2'-deoxy-7,8-dihydro-8-oxoadenosine (8-oxo-dAdo, 2), and for the efficient incorporation of the latter into oligomeric DNA. Both methods rely on the conversion of the 2'-deoxy-8-bromopurine nucleosides 3 and 10 to their corresponding 2'-deoxy-8-(benzyloxy) nucleosides 4 and 12 followed by catalytic hydrogenation to generate the 8-oxo function at the C-8 position. The preparation of the phosphoramidites 8 and 19 required for the synthesis of a series of DNA oligomers was carried out under strictly anhydrous conditions. Failure to keep the systems dry resulted in great difficulties during the purification procedures, and erratic results when DNA synthesis was attempted. In the preparation of the DNA itself, it was found to be extremely important during the ammonia deprotection step to add an antioxidant. Otherwise aerial oxidation resulted in almost complete loss of the oligomer. However, when these special conditions were followed, oligomeric DNA containing 8-oxo-dGuo and 8-oxo-dAdo residues could be prepared in excellent yield. Analysis of selected DNA oligomers by enzymatic degradation and mass spectroscopic analysis confirmed the designated sequences and compositions.