Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07H—SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS
  • C07H1/00—Processes for the preparation of sugar derivatives
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07H—SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS
  • C07H1/00—Processes for the preparation of sugar derivatives
  • C07H1/02—Phosphorylation
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07H—SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS
  • C07H19/00—Compounds containing a hetero ring sharing one ring hetero atom with a saccharide radical; Nucleosides; Mononucleotides; Anhydro-derivatives thereof
  • C07H19/02—Compounds containing a hetero ring sharing one ring hetero atom with a saccharide radical; Nucleosides; Mononucleotides; Anhydro-derivatives thereof sharing nitrogen
  • C07H19/04—Heterocyclic radicals containing only nitrogen atoms as ring hetero atom
  • C07H19/06—Pyrimidine radicals
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07H—SUGARS; DERIVATIVES THEREOF; NUCLEOSIDES; NUCLEOTIDES; NUCLEIC ACIDS
  • C07H19/00—Compounds containing a hetero ring sharing one ring hetero atom with a saccharide radical; Nucleosides; Mononucleotides; Anhydro-derivatives thereof
  • C07H19/02—Compounds containing a hetero ring sharing one ring hetero atom with a saccharide radical; Nucleosides; Mononucleotides; Anhydro-derivatives thereof sharing nitrogen
  • C07H19/04—Heterocyclic radicals containing only nitrogen atoms as ring hetero atom
  • C07H19/16—Purine radicals

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a high yielding, fast method for large-scale LNA phosphoramidites synthesis.
• LNA Locked Nucleic Acid
• Oligonucleotide synthesis is typically performed using the phosphoramidite method, invented by Caruthers, US4415732, in 1980 and improved a couple of years later by K ⁇ ster US4725677.
• LNA oligomers are being synthesised according to the phosphoramidite method, but so far the large scale supply of LNA monomers has been a problem due to slow reactions, side product formation during the reaction and reagents unstable at room temperature have been employed.
• tetrazole The mechanism of phosphoramidite activation and coupling in oligonucleotide syntheses has been studied in detail. Traditionally tetrazole has been used (Dahl et al. 1987, Nucleic Acid Research, 15, 1729-1743; Beaucage & Iver, 1992, Tetrahedron, 48, 2223-2311). The proposed mechanism of tetrazole is two step, first tetrazole protonates trivalent phosphorous followed by displacement of the ⁇ , ⁇ -diisopropylamine by the tetrazolide. This latter intermediate is very reactive with hydroxynucleophiles such as 5'-OH on nucleic acids. Therefore, tetrazole acts both as acid and as nucleophilic agent.
• Vargeese et al. (Vargeese, C; Carter, J.; Krivjansky, S.; Settle, A. ; Kropp, E.; Peterson, K.; Pieken, W. Nucleic Acid Research, 1998, 26, 1046-1050; WO9816540;) have described an activator for the coupling of phosphoramidites to the 5 ' -hydroxyl group during oligonucleotide synthesis.
• the activator is 4,5-dicyanoimidazole (DCI) and its effectiveness is thought to be based on its nucleophilicity. It was shown that DCI significantly increased the yield in phosphoramidite oligomerisation.
• Vargeese et al. has described a method of small scale DNA phosphoramidite thymine monomer synthesis using DCI, but the method they used provided a moderate yield (75%) after several re-precipitations of the amidite.
• Kittaka et al. Korean T.; Amano M.; Tanaka H.; Miyasaka T.; Hirose K. ; Yoshida T. ; Sarai A.; Yasukawa T. and Ishii S. Nucleosides & Nucleotides 18, 2769-2783, 1999
• Kittaka et al. Korean T.; Amano M.; Tanaka H.; Miyasaka T.; Hirose K. ; Yoshida T. ; Sarai A.; Yasukawa T. and Ishii S. Nucleosides & Nucleotides 18, 2769-2783, 1999
• Kittaka et al. Korean T.; Amano M.; Tanaka
• Figure 1 Phosphitylation of guanine, a) 2-Cyanoethyl- ⁇ /, ⁇ -diisopropylchlorophosphor- amidite, diisopropylethylamine, b) Phosphitylation of guanine 3'OH via the transfer/- rearrangement reaction (slow).
• Figure 3 Amine- ⁇ -D-ribo-LNA phosphoramidites and oxy- ⁇ -L-ribo-LNA thymine phosphoramidite.
• the present invention provides a novel high yielding and fast method for the large scale synthesis of pure LNA phosphoramidites.
• the phosphitylation step is crucial. If necessary also a facile and efficient purification is desired, due to the reactivity of the phosphoramidites, so as to avoid their decomposition during purification.
• An absolute purity of the amidites is a prerequisite because the monomers are used in long sequential oligomerisations over some time where also impurities can cause the decomposition of the phosphoramidites.
• the present invention provides a method for the synthesis of an LNA phosphoramidite, the method comprising phosphitylation of the 3'-OH groups of an LNA monomer with a 2- cyanoethyl-/V / ⁇ / ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'-tetra-substituted phosphoramidite in the presence of a nucleophilic activator.
• LNA monomer refers to a ribonucleotide having a 2',4'-bridge (in particular a -0-CH 2 - (oxy-LNA), -S-CH 2 - (thio-LNA), -NR-CH 2 - (amino-LNA, R being hydrogen, C 1-6 -alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, etc.) bridge) as described in the International Patent Application W09914226 and subsequent WO0056746, WO0056748, WO0066604 and WO0228875.
• a 2',4'-bridge in particular a -0-CH 2 - (oxy-LNA), -S-CH 2 - (thio-LNA), -NR-CH 2 - (amino-LNA, R being hydrogen, C 1-6 -alkyl, phenyl, benzyl, etc.
• LNA monomers of are those referred to as oxy- ⁇ -D- ribo-LNA (cf. Figure 2), thio- ⁇ -D-ribo-LNA, amino- ⁇ -D-ribo-LNA, oxy- ⁇ -L-ribo-LNA (cf. Figure 3), thio- ⁇ -L-ribo-LNA or amino- ⁇ -L-ribo-LNA.
• LNA phosphoramidite refers to a nucleotide with a protected 5'- hydroxy group (e.g. DMT protected as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3), in which the 3'- hydroxy group is coupled to a trivalent phosphorous atom, which in turn is bonded to a suitable leaving group such as a ⁇ /, /-dialkylamine, e.g. diisopropylamine and a protecting group such as the cyanoethyl (NCCH 2 CH 2 -) group.
• a suitable leaving group such as a ⁇ /, /-dialkylamine, e.g. diisopropylamine and a protecting group such as the cyanoethyl (NCCH 2 CH 2 -) group.
• Any LNA phosphoramidite that can be used in solid or liquid phase oligonucleotide synthesis can be used in the present invention, including protected dimer and trimer LNA phosphoramidite.
• ⁇ -cyanoethyl- ⁇ / ⁇ / /'-tetra-substituted phosphoramidite also referred to as "PN 2 -reagent” refers in short to a 2-cyanoethyl-/V / /V / /V' / /V'-tetra-substituted phosphoramidite, wherein the term "substituted” means a linear, cyclic or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon such as allyl or vinyl or saturated hydrocarbon or substituted hydrocarbon group or aromatic group or substituted aromatic group having 1 to 9 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, pentyl, cyclopentyl, hexyl, cyclohexyl, preferred examples alkyl are methyl, ethyl, propyl, iso-propyl, butyl, tert-butyl, iso-but
• the LNA monomer as well as the phosphoramidite LNA monomer may carry any nucleobase in the 1' position.
• nucleobase covers naturally occurring nucleobases as well as non-naturally occurring nucleobases. It should be clear to the person skilled in the art that various nucleobases which previously have been considered “non-naturally occurring” have subsequently been found in nature. Thus, “nucleobase” includes not only the known purine and pyrimidine heterocycles, but also heterocyclic analogues and tautomers thereof.
• nucleobases are adenine, guanine, thymine, cytosine, uracil, purine, xanthine, diaminopurine, ⁇ -oxo- -methyladenine, 7- deazaxanthine, 7-deazaguanine, /V ⁇ '-ethanocytosin, ⁇ / 6 , ⁇ / 6 -ethano-2,6-diaminopurine, 5- methylcytosine, 5-(C J -C 6 )-alkynylcytosine, 5-fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, pseudoiso- cytosine, 2-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-triazolopyridin, isocytosine, isoguanin, inosine, ⁇ / 6 - alylpurines, ⁇ -acylpurines, ⁇ -benzylpurine, ⁇ -halopurine, ⁇ -vinylpurine, ⁇ -
• Suitable protecting groups are well known to those skilled in the art, and included trimethylsilyl, dimethylhexylsilyl, t-butyldimenthylsilyl, and t- butyldiphenylsilyl, trityl, alkyl groups, acyl groups such as acetyl and propionyl, methanesulfonyl, and p-toluenesulfonyl, imines such as N-dimethylmethyleneeneamine and dibutylmethyleneeneamine.
• Preferred bases include cytosine, methyl cytosine, uracil, thymine, adenine and guanine.
• LNA phosphoramidites according to the present invention are prepared in high yield with 2- cyanoethyl-/V / /V / ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (a PN 2 -reagent). This reagent has not successfully been used to prepare LNA phosphoramidites before. Previously 2-cyanoethyl- /V,/V-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite has been used for preparation of LNA amidites. This has not afforted the high purity, high yields and low reaction times according to the present invention.
• the surprising finding in the present inventions is that 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ /,/v / ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'-tetraiso- propylphosphoramidite can be activated by 4,5-dicyanoimidazole and that this complex provides the accurate reactivity, during the conditions described, to secure efficient phosphitylation of all 4 LNA DMT-protected nucleosides including the G-nucleoside.
• Another advantage of the present invention is that the reactions are finished in 0.5-4 hours, preferably 1.0-3.5 hours, and that chromatography of the LNA amidites is unnecessary due to the efficient reaction.
• the phosphitylation reaction is typically allowed to proceed for 0.1-12 hours, such as 0.2-8 hours, e.g. 0.5-4.0 hours, such as 1.0- 3.5 hours.
• an LNA phosphoramidite for direct use in oligonucleotide synthesis may be obtained directly or by simple precipitation of the product from the reaction mixture.
• the method comprises at the most one precipitation step.
• Suitable nucleophilic activators for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, 4,5-dicyanoimidazole (DCI), 4-alkylthioimidazole, 2-alkylthioimidazole, 2-nitro- imidazole, 4-nitroimidazole, 4,5-dihaloimidazole, 4-haloimidazole, 2-haloimidazole and 5- alkoxytetrazole.
• DCI is the preferred nucleophilic activator.
• DCI has a pK a of 5.2 and is easily dissolved in acetonitrile.
• Suitable PN -reagents are for example, but not limited to, 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ , ⁇ ,/V , , /'-tetra- isopropylphosphoramidite and 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ /,/V / ⁇ /', ⁇ /'-tetraethylphosphoramidite and the reagents described by Dahl, B.H., Nielsen J. and Dahl O. Nucleic Acid Research, 1987, 15, 1729-1743 all incorporated here by reference.
• 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ / / /v / ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite and 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ , /, ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'- tetraethylphosphoramidite are especially relevant, in particular 2-cyanoethyl- / / ⁇ /,/V',/V'- tetraisopropylphosphoramidite.
• a currently preferred combination is where the 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ / / ⁇ /, ⁇ /' / ⁇ /'-tetra-substituted phosphoramidite is the 2-cyanoethyl- ⁇ / / ⁇ , ⁇ ' / ⁇ /'-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite and the nucleophilic activator is 4,5-dicyanoimidazole.
• the molar ratio between the LNA monomer and the nucleophilic activator is typically in the range of 1:0.0001 to 1: 10, preferably 1 :0.0001 to 1 : 1, and more preferably 1 :0.0001 to 1:0.7.
• the molar ratio between the LNA monomer and the PN 2 -reagent is typically in the range of 1:0.9 to 1 : 10, preferably 1:0.95 to 1: 5, more preferably 1 : 1.
• the currently most interesting LNA monomers are those which have a nucleobase selected from guanine, thymine, cytosine, methyl cytosine, uracil and adenine, typically in the protected from such as N-benzoyl protected cytosine (C Bz ), N-benzoyl protected methyl cytosine ( Me C Bz ), N-iso-butanoyl protected guanine (G Ibu ), uracil (U), thymine (T), N- benzoyl protected adenine (A Bz ).
• 2-Cyanoethyl-/V,/V-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite appeared to have several disadvantages compared to 2-cyanoethyl- , ⁇ , ⁇ ', V'-tetraisopropylphosphoramidite (PN 2 - reagent). It is unstable at room temperature, expensive and difficult to handle due to its high reactivity. Furthermore undesired reactions with the nucleobases are often observed with 2-cyanoethyl- V,/V-diisopropylchlorophosphoramidite ( Figure 1).

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• 2002
  • 2002-07-12 AU AU2002328792A patent/AU2002328792A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-12 EP EP02764561A patent/EP1409497B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
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