Chemistry of Phosphonate Analogs of Nucleotides and Oligonucleotides – Brief Reminiscence and the Present

Abstract

Our investigation in the chemistry of nucleoside phosphonates has provided an impressive number of novel structurally diverse compounds. Among them, several potent inhibitors of enzymes of nucleosides and nucleotide salvage pathways were found. The findings obtained in synthesis of nucleoside phosphonates are unique. The nucleoside phosphonates provided several types of monomers for the synthesis of modified oligonucleotides. The first non-silyl protecting group was developed and used in the solid-phase synthesis of modified oligoribonucleotides in the reverse direction. The superior nuclease stability of phosphonate internucleotide linkages, their ability to enhance hybridization together with the ability to elicit RNase H activity may classify these compounds as useful in biochemistry and biology.