N2, C8-disubstituted guanosine derivatives can form G-quartets

A lipophilic guanosine with alkene groups attached to the nucleobase’s N2 and C8 positions was synthesized with the intent of using olefin cross-metathesis to covalently capture an individual G-quartet. Modification of the N2 and C8 positions gave a derivative that formed a stable G-quartet structure in the presence of a cation template. This is the first example of a N2, C8-disubstituted guanosine forming a G-quartet.