Influence of Acetyl and Bromine Substitutions on Stacking. Crystal and Molecular Structures of 8-Bromo 2′,3′,5′-Triacetyl Adenosine and 8-Bromo 2′,3′,5′-Triacetyl Guanosine

Abstract

The three dimensional structures of 8-bromo 2′,3′,5′-triacetyl adenosine (8-Br Tri A) and 8-bromo 2′,3′,5′-triacetyl guanosine (8-Br Tri G) have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods to study the combined effect of bromine and acetyl substitutions on molecular conformation and interactions. The ribose puckers differ from those found in unbrominated Tri A and Tri G and unacetylated 8-Br A and 8-Br G analogues. The adenine bases in 8-Br Tri A form A.A.A base triplets using both Watson-Crick and Hoogsteen sites. Br atoms are not involved in stacking unlike most halogenated structures. The ‘scorpion tail’ positioning of acetyl over base in 8-Br Tri G is different from Tri G and is an interesting consequence of bromine substitution.