Synthesis of N2, N2, 7-trimethylguanosine cap derivatives.

Several derivatives of N2,N2-7-trimethylguanosine (m3(2,2,7G)-cap, which was found at the 5' ends of small nuclear RNAs, were synthesized by use of S-phenyl N2,N2,7-trimethylguanosine 5'-phosphorothioate (PhSpm3(2,2,7)G) as a key intermediate. This compound was activated by iodine in the presence of phosphoric acid and diphosphoric acid to give N2,N2,7-trimethylguanosine-5'-diphosphate (ppm3(2,2,7)G) and 5'-triphosphate (ppm3(2,2,7)G), respectively. Similar reactions of PhSpm3(2,2,7)G with ADP and GDP gave capped dinucleoside triphosphates, m3(2,2,7)G5'pppA and m3(2,2,7)G5'pppG, respectively.