Synthesis of 2′-C-α-difluoromethylarauridine and its 3′-O-phosphoramidite incorporation into a hammerhead ribozyme

The 2′-C-difluoromethylated nucleoside 4 was synthesized starting from uridine. 4 was then converted to the 3′-O-phosphoramidite derivative 5 and was incorporated into a hammerhead ribozyme (7). The cleavage characteristics of the modified oligonucleotide have been analysed.