The catalytic activity of ribose-containing polymers for the hydrolysis of phosphodiester and the cleavage of nucleic acid

In order to investigate the catalytic activity for the hydrolysis of phosphodiester and the cleavage of nucleic acids, ribose-containing polymers 11, 12 and 13 were synthesized. While polymer 11 showed no catalytic activity, polymers 12 and 13 catalyzed the cleavage of nucleic acids and the hydrolysis of a phosphodiester substrate. The catalytic activity was attributable to the vic-cis diols of riboses on polymer chains, which formed hydrogen bonds with two phosphoryl oxygen atoms of phosphates so as to activate the phosphorous atoms to be attacked by nucleophiles (H2O).