A SYNTHESIS OF RIBOTHYMIDINE-5′-PYROPHOSPHATE AND ITS CONVERSION TO POLYRIBOTHYMIDYLIC ACID

Abstract

Ribofuranosylthymine (conveniently described as ribothymidine) was converted to its 2[image] 3[image]-isopropylidene derivative by condensation with acetone in the presence of toluene-p-sulfonic acid. From this substance ribothymidine-5[image]-pyrophosphate was synthesized by a method analogous to that already described for thymidine-5[image]-pyrophosphate (B. E. Griffin and A. R. Todd, Jour. Chem. Soc, p. 1389, 1958.). Using polynucleotide phosphorylase, the synthetic pyrophosphate was converted to polyribothymidylic acid.