Efficient oligoadenylate synthesis catalyzed by uranyl ion complex in aqueous solution.

Polymerization of adenosine-5'-phosphorimidazolide in an aqueous solution was conducted with uranyl ion as a catalyst. Oligoadenylate formation took place efficiently with high regio-selectivity (2'-5' linkage). The oligoadenylates up to hexadecamer were obtained in a high total yield. The chain length and the regio-selectivity of the resulting oligoadenylates varied greatly depending on the concentration of the uranyl ion catalyst. The oligonucleotide formation is likely to be mediated by uranylnucleotide complex.