N4-Benzoyl-N3-benzyl-2′-deoxycytidine

We have recently demonstrated that the pendant tert-butyldiphenylsilyl (TBDPS) groups in the short oligonucleotides TBDPS-5′-CG-3′-3′-GC-5′-TBDPS and TBDPS-5′-CGG-3′-3′-GGC-5′-TBDPS promoted the formation of new lipophilic and stable tetramolecular G-quadruplexes (GQs). Encouraged by these findings, we sought to investigate the effect of alternative lipophilic substituents at the flanking cytidine residues on GQ formation and properties. Herein, we reported on the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the new N4-benzoyl-N3-benzyl-2′-deoxycytidine, which was obtained during our attempts to synthesize N4-benzoyl-5′-O-benzyl-2′-deoxycytidine.