Molecular chameleons. Design and synthesis of a second series of flexible nucleosides

The second series of flexible shape-modified nucleosides is introduced. The fleximers feature the purine ring systems split into their individual imidazole and pyrimidine components. This structural modification serves to introduce flexibility to the nucleoside while still retaining the elements essential for recognition. As a consequence, these structurally innovative nucleosides can more readily adapt to their environment and should find use as bioprobes for investigating enzyme-coenzyme binding sites as well as nucleic acid and protein interactions. Their design and synthesis is described.