Nonionic nucleic acid alkyl and aryl phosphonates and processes for

Abstract

Oligonucleoside alkyl-- or aryl phosphonates are nonionic analogues of nucleic acid which possess unique physical and biological properties. These properties enable the analogues to enter living cells intact and to bind with specifically selected nucleic acids within the cell. As a result, the analogues can specifically inhibit the function or expression of a preselected nucleic acid sequence. Thus the analogues could be used to specifically inhibit the growth of tumor cells or replication of viruses in infected cells. Four methods are provided for preparing oligonucleoside methylphosphonates: (1) Coupling a protected nucleoside 3'-alkyl or aryl phosphonate with the 5'-hydroxyl group of a protected nucleoside using a condensing agent; (2) Coupling protected nucleoside 3'-alkyl or aryl phosphonic acid derivative with the 5'-hydroxy group of a protected nucleoside with the activated alkyl or aryl phosphonic acid derivative possessing functionalities which are good leaving groups; (3) Coupling a protected nucleoside 3'-alkyl or aryl phosphinate derivative with the 5'-hydroxyl group of a protected nucleoside with the resulting phosphinate derivative being then oxidized to the phosphonate; and (4) Converting a oligonucleoside methoxyphosphite derivative to the alkyl or aryl phosphonate derivative by reaction with an alkyl or aryl iodide. It has been demonstrated that procedures (1) and (2) can be used to prepare oligonucleoside methylphosphonates. Others have shown that procedure (4) can be used to prepare a diribonucleoside methylphosphonate.