CDP-Ethanolamine and CDP-Choline: one-pot synthesis and 31P NMR study

Herein we report a one-pot multi-step synthesis of the cofactors CDP-Ethanolamine and CDP-Choline starting from cytidine 5′-monophosphate and using commercially available and/or easily prepared reagents. While studying the 31P NMR spectrum of CDP-Ethanolamine, an unexpected characteristic for a pyrophosphate diester was observed as it showed a singlet or two doublets depending upon the pH. Therefore, further NMR studies were undertaken to investigate the pH dependence of the peak splitting pattern and measure the acid dissociation constants of the compounds.