Chemistry Letters, Vol.31, No.2, 222-223, 2002
Synthesis and base-pairing of self-complementary mesomeric betaines of guanine
Substitution of 8-H of guanine-N-oxide was accomplished by pyridine, 4-dimethy laminopyridine and acetyl chloride, respectively, to give a cationic purine base after hydrolysis. Deprotonation formed mesomeric betaines of guanine. ESI mass spectrometry and H-1 NMR revealed their self-complementarity. Base-pairing to cytosine was observed with a fully protected DNA model compound.