Mixed Anhydride Intermediates in the Reaction of 5(4H)-Oxazolones with Phosphate Esters and Nucleotides

5(4H)-Oxazolones can be formed through the activation of acylated alpha-amino acids or of peptide C termini. They constitute potentially activated intermediates in the abiotic chemistry of peptides that preceded the origin of life or early stages of biology and are capable of yielding mixed carboxylic-phosphoric anhydrides upon reaction with phosphate esters and nucleotides. Here, we present the results of a study aimed at investigating the chemistry that can be built through this interaction. As a matter of fact, the formation of mixed anhydrides with mononucleotides and nucleic acid models is shown to take place at positions involving a mono-substituted phosphate group at the 3'- or 5'-terminus but not at the internal phosphodiester linkages. In addition to the formation of mixed anhydrides, the subsequent intramolecular acyl or phosphoryl transfers taking place at the 3'-terminus are considered to be particularly relevant to the common prebiotic chemistry of alpha-amino acids and nucleotides.