Tributylammonium pyrophosphate

Description

Tributylammonium pyrophosphate is a phosphorylating reagent used in the synthesis of phosphorylated nucleosides, particularly nucleoside triphosphates used as building blocks for the synthesis of DNA, RNA and sugar nucleotides; as well as a source of cellular energy. Nucleoside triphosphates are typically synthesised by treating free nucleosides with phosphorus oxychloride, then adding tributylammonium pyrophosphate to the reaction intermediate, where the lipophilic tributylammonium salt enhances solubility in organic solvents. Additionally, tributylammonium pyrophosphate was used in the preparation of structurally complex dinucleotide-5’-triphosphates.

Uses

Bis(tributylammonium) Pyrophosphate is an phosphorylating reagent used in the synthesis of phosphorylated deoxynucleosides.
Reactant for:
Enzymic synthesis of 3′-deoxy-apio-nucleic acid duplexes
Synthesis of deoxynucleoside S-methylphosphonic acids
Preparation of fluorescent non-nucleotide ATP analog N-methylanthraniloylamideethyl triphosphate
Useful in triphosphate synthesis because of its low water content and high solubility in organic solvents.

Uses

Reactant for:

• Enzymic synthesis of 3′-deoxy-apio-nucleic acid duplexes
• Synthesis of deoxynucleoside S-methylphosphonic acids
• Preparation of fluorescent non-nucleotide ATP analog N-methylanthraniloylamideethyl triphosphate

Preparation

A solution of tetrasodium pyrophosphate (3.5 g, 7.5 mmol) in water (50 mL) was eluted through a cation exchange resin (BIO-RAD AG 50 W-X8 Resin, 50–100 mesh, hydrogen form) at 4 °C. The eluent with pH of less than 3 (pH paper) was collected directly into a vigorously stirred flask containing tributylamine (2 mL, 8 mmol, 4 °C). The obtained tributylammonium pyrophosphate was dried through repeated rotary evaporation with dry MeOH and then dissolved in dry DMF (10 mL).

References

Santner et al (2012). The synthesis of 2′-methylseleno adenosine and guanosine 5′-triphosphates. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 20:2416.
Hollenstein (2012). Nucleoside Triphosphates — Building Blocks for the Modification of Nucleic Acids. Molecules 17:13569-13591.
bramova et al (2007). A facile and effective synthesis of dinucleotide 5′-triphosphates. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry 15:6549-6555.