5-Selenocyanato-20 -deoxyuridine (SeCNdU) and 5-trifluoromethanesulfonyl-2 0 -deoxyuridine (OTfdU) have been synthesized and their structures have been confirmed with NMR and MS methods. Both compounds undergo dissociative electron attachment (DEA) when irradiated with X-rays in an aqueous solution containing a hydroxyl radical scavenger. The DEA yield of SeCNdU significantly exceeds that of 5-bromo-2 0 -deoxyuridine (BrdU), remaining in good agreement with the computationally revealed profile of electron-induced degradation. The radiolysis products indicate, in line with theoretical predictions, Se-CN bond dissociation as the main reaction channel. On the other hand, the DEA yield for OTfdU is slightly lower than the degradation yield measured for BrdU, despite the fact that the calculated driving force for the electron-induced OTfdU dissociation substantially overpasses the thermodynamic stimulus for BrdU degradation. Moreover, the calculated DEA profile suggests that the electron attachment induced formation of 5-hydroxy-2 0 -deoxyuridine (OHdU) from OTfdU, while 2 0 -deoxyuridine (dU) is mainly observed experimentally. We explained this discrepancy in terms of the increased acidity of OTfdU resulting in efficient deprotonation of the N3 atom, which brings about the domination of the OTfdU(N3-H) À anion in the equilibrium mixture. As a consequence, electron addition chiefly leads to the radical dianion, OTfdU(N3-H)c 2À, which easily protonates at the C5 site. As a result, the C5-O rather than O-S bond undergoes dissociation, leading to dU, observed experimentally. A negligible cytotoxicity of the studied compounds toward the MCF-7 cell line at the concentrations used for cell labelling calls for further studies aiming at the clinical use of the proposed derivatives.

Although 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (5BrdU) possesses significant radiosensitizing power in vitro, clinical studies do not confirm any advantages of radiotherapy employing 5BrdU. This situation calls for a continuous search for efficient radiosensitizers. Using the proposed mechanism of radiosensitization by 5BrdU, we propose a series of 5-substituted uracils, XYU, that should undergo efficient dissociative electron attachment. The DFT-calculated thermodynamic and kinetic data concerning the XYU degradations induced by electron addition suggests that some of the scrutinized derivatives have much better characteristics than 5BrdU itself. Synthesis of these promising candidates for radiosensitizers, followed by studies of their radiosensitizing properties in DNA context, and ultimately in cancer cells, are further steps to confirm their potential applicability in anticancer treatment.

Efficient radiotherapy requires the concomitant use of ionizing radiation (IR) and a radiosensitizer. In the present work uracil-5-yl O -sulfamate (SU) is tested against its radiosensitizing potential. The compound possesses appropriate dissociative electron attachment (DEA) characteristics calculated at the M06-2X/6-31++G(d,p) level. Crossed electron–molecular beam experiments in the gas phase demonstrate that SU undergoes efficient DEA processes, and the single C–O or S–O bond dissociations account for the majority of fragments induced by electron attachment. Most DEAs proceed already for electrons with kinetic energies of ∼0 eV, which is supported by the exothermic thresholds calculated at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level. However, in water solution under reductive conditions and physiological pH, SU does not undergo radiolysis, which demonstrates the crucial influence of aqueous environment on the radiosensitizing properties of modified nucleosides.

A better understanding of the mechanism of oxidative DNA damage requires obtaining a molecular level description of nucleotides in various charge states. Herein, we report a systematic photoelectron spectroscopy and theoretical investigation of the electronic and geometric structures of four doubly deprotonated 2′-deoxynucleoside 5′-monophosphate dianions, the smallest quintessential DNA building block. These dianions are intrinsically stable with their adiabatic/vertical detachment energies (ADE/VDE) ranging from 0.85/1.07 (A) and 1.05/1.30 (G) to 1.20/1.50 (C) and 1.80/2.10 eV (T). The repulsive Coulomb barrier against electron detachment is 2.0 eV for purines and 2.5 eV for pyrimidines. Dianions are deprotonated at the phosphate group and the amino group of a nucleobase. The πtype HOMO orbital resides on the nucleobase moiety for each dianion. This spatial distribution of HOMO suggests that the most loosely bound electron is detached along the direction perpendicular to the nucleobase. When combined with the previous results, this work makes complete the depiction of basic building blocks of DNA at the molecular level.

We investigate dissociative electron attachment to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) employing a crossed electron-molecular beam experiment and quantum chemical calculations. Upon the formation of the 5-FU− anion, 12 different fragmentation products are observed, the most probable dissociation channel being H loss. The parent anion, 5-FU−, is not stable on the experimental timescale (~140 µs), most probably due to the low electron affinity of FU; simple HF loss and F− formation are seen only with a rather weak abundance. The initial dynamics upon electron attachment seems to be governed by hydrogen atom pre-dissociation followed by either its full dissociation or roaming in the vicinity of the molecule, recombining eventually into the HF molecule. When the HF molecule is formed, the released energy might be used for various ring cleavage reactions. Our results show that higher yields of the fluorine anion are most probably prevented through both faster dissociation of an H atom and recombination of F− with a proton to form HF. Resonance calculations indicate that F− is formed upon shape as well as core-excited resonances.