Our computational studies suggest that 3-substituted xanthines are good candidates for tetrad and quadruplex structures. 3-Methylxanthine (3MX) has been synthesized from 7-benzylxanthine, and the existence of tetrameric and octameric aggregates of 3MX with NH 4 + , Na + and K + ions in the gas phase (MS) and in DMSO-d 6 solution (NMR) has been observed. The ''internal'' H-bonds (N1HÁ Á ÁO6) are stronger than the ''external'' ones (N7HÁ Á ÁO2) in these clusters (NMR). Fig. 1 Tetrads composed of 7H-3-methylxanthine (3MX) and different cations [cat + = none, Na + , K + , NH 4 + ; purine atom and spectroscopic (underlined) numbering shown in upper left ring].

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides bearing boranephosphonate linkages (bpDNA) were shown to reduce a number of metal ions and form nanoparticles through a novel reaction pathway that leads to phosphate diesters or phosphate triesters in water or alcohols respectively. The synthetic utility of this reaction was further demonstrated through the synthesis of oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing phosphate triester linkages. This new reactivity also makes bpDNA promising for use in construction of DNA templated metallic nanostructures.

No abstract