Triplex-forming ability of oligonucleotides containing 1-aryl-1,2,3-triazole nucleobases linked via a two atom-length spacer.

Phosphoramidites containing 2-propynyloxy or 1-butyn-4-yl as nucleobase precursors were synthesized and introduced into oligonucleotides using an automated DNA synthesizer. Copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of the oligonucleotides with various azides gave the corresponding triazolylated oligonucleotides, triplex-forming ability of these synthetic oligonucleotides with double-stranded DNA targets was evaluated by UV melting experiments. It was found that nucleobases containing 2-(1-m-carbonylaminophenyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)ethyl units likely interacted with A of a TA base pair in a parallel triplex DNA.