On the Use of Metal Purine Derivatives ( M= Ir, Rh) for the Selective Labeling of Nucleosides and Nucleotides

The reactions of neutral or cationic Ir-III and Rh-III derivatives of phenyl purine nucleobases with unsymmetrical alkynes produce new metallacycles in a predictable manner, which allows for the incorporation of either photoactive (anthracene or pyrene) or electroactive (ferrocene) labels in the nucleotide or nucleoside moiety. The reported methodology (metalation of the purine derivative and subsequent marker insertion) could be used for the postfunctionalization and unambiguous labeling of oligonucleotides.