Regioselective 5'-position phosphorylation of ribose and ribonucleosides: phosphate transfer in the activated pyrophosphate complex in the gas phase.

Herein, we present a rapid, efficient and regioselective phosphorylation method at the 5'-position of unprotected ribose and ribonucleosides with pyrophosphate in the gas phase, which involves the formation of anionic complexes via electrospray ionization and collisional activation to induce phosphorylation within the complexes.