Synthesis of an Oligodeoxyribonucleotide Adduct of Mitomycin C by the Postoligomerization Method via a Triamino Mitosene

The cancer chemotherapeutic agent mitomycin C (MC) alkylates and cross-links DNA monofunctionally and bifunctionally in vivo and in vitro, forming six major MC−deoxyguanosine adducts of known structures. The synthesis of one of the monoadducts (8) by the postoligomerization method was accomplished both on the nucleoside and oligonucleotide levels, the latter resulting in the site-specific placement of 8 in a 12-mer oligodeoxyribonucleotide 26. This is the first application of this method to the synthesis of a DNA adduct of a complex natural product. Preparation of the requisite selectively protected triaminomitosenes 14 and 24 commenced with removal of the 10-carbamoyl group from MC, followed by reductive conversion to 10-decarbamoyl-2,7-diaminomitosene 10. This substance was transformed to 14 or 24 in several steps. Both were successfully coupled to the 2-fluoro-O⁶-(2-trimethylsilylethyl)deoxyinosine residue of the 12-mer oligonucleotide. The N²-phenylacetyl protecting group of 14 after its coupling to the 12-mer oligonucleotide could not be removed by penicillinamidase as expected. Nevertheless, the Teoc protecting group of 24 after coupling to the 12-mer oligonucleotide was removed by treatment with ZnBr₂ to give the adducted oligonucleotide 26. However, phenylacetyl group removal was successful on the nucleoside-level synthesis of adduct 8. Proof of the structure of the synthetic nucleoside adduct included HPLC coelution and identical spectral properties with a natural sample, and ¹H NMR. Structure proof of the adducted oligonucleotide 26 was provided by enzymatic digestion to nucleosides and authentic adduct 8, as well as MS and MS/MS analysis.