Synthesis and properties of a novel modified nucleic acid, 2'-N-methanesulfonyl-2'-amino-locked nucleic acid.

2'-Amino-locked nucleic acid has a functionalizable nitrogen atom at the 2'-position of its furanose ring that can provide desired properties to a nucleic acid as a scaffold. In this study, we synthesized a novel nucleic acid, 2'-N-methanesulfonyl-2'-amino-locked nucleic acid (ALNA[Ms]) and conducted comparative studies on the physical and pharmacological properties of the ALNA[Ms] and on conventional nucleic acids, such as 2'-methylamino-LNA (ALNA[Me]), which is a classical 2'-amino-LNA derivative, and also on 2',4'-BNA/LNA (LNA). ALNA[Ms] oligomers exhibited binding affinities for the complementary RNA strand that are similar to those of conventional nucleic acids.

2'-N-Alkylaminocarbonyl-2'-amino-LNA: Synthesis, duplex stability, nuclease resistance, and in vitro anti-microRNA activity.

2'-Amino-LNA has the potential to acquire various functions through chemical modification at the 2'-nitrogen atom. This study focused on 2'-N-alkylaminocarbonyl 2'-amino-LNA, which is a derivative of 2'-amino-LNA. We evaluated its practical usefulness as a chemical modification of anti-miRNA oligonucleotide.

Parallel synthesis of oligonucleotides containing -acyl amino-LNA and their therapeutic effects as anti-microRNAs.

2'-Amino-locked nucleic acid (ALNA), maintains excellent duplex stability, and the nitrogen at the 2'-position is an attractive scaffold for functionalization. Herein, a facile and efficient method for the synthesis of various 2'--acyl amino-LNA derivatives by direct acylation of the 2'-amino moiety contained in the synthesized oligonucleotides and its fundamental properties are described. The introduction of the acylated amino-LNA enhances the potency of the molecules as therapeutic anti-microRNA oligonucleotides.

Synthesis and properties of GuNA purine/pyrimidine nucleosides and oligonucleotides.

We recently designed guanidine-bridged nucleic acids (GuNA), and GuNA bearing a thymine (T) nucleobase was synthesized and successfully incorporated into oligonucleotides. The GuNA-T-modified oligonucleotides possessed high duplex-forming ability towards their complementary single-stranded RNAs and were highly stable against 3'-exonuclease. Therefore, GuNA is a promissing artificial nucleic acid for therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides.

Synthetic Method for 2'-Amino-LNA Bearing Any of the Four Nucleobases via a Transglycosylation Reaction.

A transglycosylation reaction of 2'-amino-locked nucleic acid (LNA) from thymine (T) to other nucleobases adenine (A), guanine (G), and 5-methylcytosine (C) has been developed. This reaction proceeds in high yield and with high β-selectivity. The mild reaction conditions enable the coexistence of acid-labile protecting groups, including a 4,4'-dimethoxytrytyl (DMTr) group.

Diastereoselective Ni(0)-catalyzed carbocyclization to chiral vinylic sulfoxide.

Diastereoselective Ni(0)-catalyzed carbocyclization of enone to chiral vinylic sulfoxide has been accomplished, wherein two stereogenic centers were constructed simultaneously to give cis- and trans-disubstituted cyclopentanes from (E)- and (Z)-vinylic sulfoxides, respectively.

Highly stereoselective synthesis of functionalized beta,beta-di- and trisubstituted vinylic sulfoxides by Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of organozinc reagents.

beta,beta-Disubstituted chiral vinylic sulfoxides bearing functionalities have been synthesized via Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of organozinc reagents to chiral 1-alkynyl sulfoxides. Due to the availability of functionalized organozinc reagents and high syn-selectivity of the reaction, both geometric beta,beta-disubstituted vinylic sulfoxides were selectively synthesized. Furthermore, 1-alkynyl sulfoxides were derivatized into trisubstituted vinylic sulfoxides by trapping the resulting alpha-sulfinyl vinylic carbanion with electrophiles.

Asymmetric intramolecular michael addition of alpha-sulfinyl vinylic carbanion to enoates.

The first example of an asymmetric intramolecular Michael addition reaction with use of alpha-lithiated vinylic sulfoxide as a Michael donor is reported. Michael addition of the alpha-lithiated vinylic sulfoxide to (Z)-enoates proceeds with high diastereoselectivity to give the adducts with (R)-configuration at the beta-position of the ester in the five-membered-ring formation. The selectivity was reversed in the six-membered-ring formation.

Geometrically selective synthesis of functionalized beta,beta-disubstituted vinylic sulfoxides by Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of organozinc reagents to 1-alkynyl sulfoxides.

[reaction: see text] A new synthetic method of chiral beta,beta-disubstituted vinylic sulfoxides bearing various functionalities has been developed by employing Cu-catalyzed conjugate addition of an organozinc reagent to chiral 1-alkynyl sulfoxide. Since the reaction proceeds with very high syn-selectivity, both geometric beta,beta-disubstituted vinylic sulfoxides were stereoselectively synthesized by changing the combination of 1-alkynyl sulfoxide and the organozinc reagent.