1,1′-Bis(thymine)ferrocene Nucleoside: Synthesis and Study of Its Stereoselective Formation

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • I. Anisimov - (Author)
  • S. Saloman - (Author)
  • A. Hildebrandt - , Chemnitz University of Technology (Author)
  • Heinrich Lang - (Author)
  • D. Trzybiński - (Author)
  • K. Woźniak - (Author)
  • D. Šakic - (Author)
  • V. Vrček - (Author)
  • K. Kowalski - (Author)

Abstract

The synthesis of 1,1′-bis(thymine)ferrocene nucleoside is reported. This nucleoside was obtained in a two-step synthetic methodology including a Michael addition reaction of 1,1′-bis(3-chloropropionyl)ferrocene with thymine to afford the bis(thymine) adduct in 44 % yield. In the second step, the two prochiral carbonyl functionalities in the Michael adduct were reduced to hydroxyl groups with sodium borohydride. This apparently straightforward reaction proceeds in a highly stereoselective fashion to yield the title ferrocenyl nucleoside as a racemic mixture that consists of the R,R and the S,S isomers. The absolute configuration of the chiral carbon atoms in the nucleoside was assigned on the basis of single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of the methyl derivative. Furthermore, the mechanism of reduction of the bis(thymine) adduct was investigated by using DFT calculations. The two critical minima, pre-reactive complex, and semi-reduced intermediate, as well as two corresponding transition states were located to support the observed stereoselectivity. The redox properties of 1,1′-bis(thymine)ferrocene nucleoside, its precursor, and congeners were investigated using cyclic voltammetry. For the title compound a reversible redox process was found at a low potential of −30 mV versus FcH/FcH+ (FcH=Fe(η5-C5H5)2) as the reference redox couple.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)859 - 866
JournalChemPlusChem
Volume82
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - 2017
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85023632040

Keywords