Chiral selection in oligoadenylate formation in the presence of a metal ion catalyst or poly(U) template.

The lead ion-catalyzed oligomerization of 5'-phosphorimidazolides of D-, L- or racemic DL-adenosine (D-ImpA, L-ImpA and DL-ImpA) gave oligoadenylates up to a pentamer. The oligomers resulting from racemic ImpA were comparable in yields and length to those from chiral D- or L-ImpA. A complex mixture of homochiral and heterochiral oligomers was formed in the reaction from racemic ImpA. Total dimer product from racemic ImpA by the lead ion catalyst showed homochiral selectivity. The reaction catalyzed by uranyl ion yielded oligoadenylates up to 15mer from chiral D- or L-ImpA in over 95% yield. A complex mixture of isomeric oligoadenylates was formed from racemic DL-ImpA in the presence of uranyl ion catalyst in comparable yields to those from D- or L-ImpA. The analysis of the dimer product from DL-ImpA showed that the homochiral 2' -5' linked dimer was selectively formed. D-ImpA polymerized effectively on a poly(U) template, which is exclusively composed of D-uridine, yielding oligoadenylates up to a pentamer. In contrast, L-ImpA or racemic DL-ImpA polymerized far less efficiently on the poly(U) template, demonstrating that chiral selection takes place in the poly(U) template-directed oligoadenylate formation.